Lok Sabha Question No. 1101 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-05
Subject: Groundwater Pollution and Contamination
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Smt. Jyotsna Charandas Mahant

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1101

ANSWERED ON 05.02.2026

## GROUNDWATER POLLUTION AND CONTAMINATION

## †1101. SMT. JYOTSNA CHARANDAS MAHANT:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has prepared any district-wise remedial action plan to tackle groundwater pollution in Korba and other industrial districts on the basis of the Central Ground Water Board's Annual Report 2024 and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the number of habitations covered under the Jal Jeevan Mission where the level of nitrate and other harmful elements in groundwater is forty per cent more than the prescribed limit; and

(c)  whether  any  special  guidelines  have  been  issued  to  ensure  drinking  water  supply  in  such  areas through alternative safe water sources or treatment systems and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  generates  ground  water  quality  data  on  a  regional  scale throughout  the  country  as  part  of  its  ground  water  quality  monitoring  program  and  various  scientific studies as per its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

As per the latest Annual Groundwater Quality Report, 2025, in Korba district, out of 12 samples analyzed, exceedances of permissible limits were observed for Nitrate at 01 location and for Fluoride at 02 locations.  Further,  the  concentrations  of  the  assessed  heavy  metals,  namely  Arsenic  (As),  Uranium (U), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn), were observed to be within permissible limits.

CGWB has recommended  various  remedial  measures  for  ground  water  contamination  caused  by different  types  of  contaminants  which  are  publicized  through  Annual  Ground  Water  Quality  Reports, NAQUIM study reports, advisories to state/district  administrations  and  through  its  training  and  public interaction programmes. CGWB has also developed the techniques for constructing Arsenic and Fluoride safe wells which have been shared with state governments for replication and upscaling.

(b) & (c) Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is being implemented by the Government of India in partnership with States since 2019 to provide safe drinking water to every rural household of the country. The scheme covers the entire country and not just quality affected areas. Following measures have been taken under JJM to facilitate action on water quality aspects at state level:-

-  Water safety has been one of the key priorities under the JJM since its inception. Under the JJM,  Bureau  of  Indian  Standards'  BIS:10500  standards  have  been  adopted  as  prescribed norms for quality of tap water service delivery.
-  While allocating the funds to States/ UTs, 10% weightage is given to the population residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants.
-  States/ UTs have been advised to plan and implement piped water supply schemes of bulk water transfer  based,  preferably,  on  surface  water  sources  or  alternative  safe  ground  water sources for the villages with water quality issue.
-  To facilitate implementation of the above said Framework, around 2870 water quality testing laboratories have been set up in the country. Besides this, five persons, preferably women are identified and trained from every village for testing the water samples through Field Test Kits (FTKs).
-  States/ UTs have also been advised to install community water purification plants (CWPPs) as an interim measure, especially in quality affected habitations, to provide potable drinking water to every household.

As  a  result  of  cumulative  efforts  of  the  government  and  other  stakeholders  in  addressing  water contamination issue, there has been a significant reduction in number of habitations affected by major contaminants like Nitrate, Arsenic & Fluoride. As reported by the states, there were 515 Nitrate affected habitations in the country as on April 2022 out of which 112 have been covered under the scheme so far, providing safe drinking water. Further, from August 2019 to January 2026, the number of Arsenic and Fluoride  affected  habitations  in  the  country  have  declined  from  14,020  to  314  and  from  7,996  to  245 respectively. These remaining habitations have also been provided clean, & safe drinking water through Community Water Purifier Plants (CWPPs).

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