Lok Sabha Question No. 2147 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-12
Subject: Water Scarcity and Drinking Water Stress in Northern Kerala
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Rajmohan Unnithan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO .

## - 2147

ANSWERED ON 12/02/2026

## WATER SCARCITY AND DRINKING WATER STRESS IN NORTHERN KERALA

## 2147.  SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  several  areas  in  northern  Kerala  including Kasaragod district face recurring drinking water scarcity during the summer season and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is a fact that inadequate surface water conservation and groundwater recharge have aggravated the situation and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any district-specific assessment of drinking water stress has been undertaken and if so, the details and the findings thereof;
- (d) whether  Central  schemes  for  drinking  water  supply  and  water  conservation  are  being effectively implemented in the said region and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure sustainable and equitable access to safe drinking water?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA)

- (a) to (c) Since August 2019, Government of India is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal, in partnership with States/ UTs including Kerala, to make provision of safe and adequate tap water connection to every rural household of the country. At the start of JJM, only 0.39 lakh (15%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections in the Kasaragod District of Kerala. So far, as reported by the state, more than 0.47 lakh additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as on 28.01.2026, out of 2.54 lakh rural households in the district, more than 0.86 lakh (33.9%) households are reported to have tap water connections in their homes.

Water  being  a  state  subject,  the  responsibility  of  planning,  approval,  implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including those under the JJM,  as  well  as  for  augmentation,  conservation  and  efficient  management  of  water resources lies with State/UT Governments. The Government of India supports the States by providing technical and financial assistance.

Ministry of Jal Shakti has been implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) since 2019. JSA: CTR, with its sixth edition implemented in all the districts (rural as well as urban) of the country including the state of Kerala under the theme 'Jal Sanchay, Jan Bhagidari: Jan

Jagrukta Ki Or', emphasizing community participation and water conservation awareness. The campaign emphasizes convergent financing and active community participation to ensure maximum  impact.  To  achieve  effective inter-sectoral  convergence  among Ministries for constructing artificial recharge structures, the Government has implemented a multi-pronged strategy that leverages collaboration, resource optimization and institutional coordination.

- (d)  and (e) Development of reliable drinking water sources and/ or augmentation of existing sources  to  provide  long-term  sustainability  of  water  supply  system  in  villages,  is  an integral part of JJM. To achieve this objective, following provisions have been made in operational guidelines for the implementation of JJM:
- i.) Any  water  supply  scheme  undertaken  under  JJM  is  approved  only  after  the recommendation of a Source Finding Committee of the respective State Government, to the effect that the identified water source through which the scheme is planned, has sufficient yield for sustaining water supply as per required norm, for the scheme design period;
- ii.) Development/ strengthening/ augmentation of drinking water sources; and infrastructure for bulk transfer of water, treatment, and distribution systems in water deficit, drought-prone and desert areas without dependable ground water sources; and
- iii.) Strengthening of drinking water sources in convergence with other schemes such as VB-G RAM G , Finance Commission grants to rural local bodies/ PRIs, MP & MLA's Local  Area  Development  Fund,  District  Mineral  Foundation  (DMF)  Fund,  CSR fund, etc.

Further, Jal Shakti Abhiyan - Catch the rain campaign, in its different editions, focused on water  conservation  and  rainwater  harvesting  structures,  renovation  of  traditional  water bodies, reuse and recharge structures, watershed development, etc.

To ensure equitable access to safe drinking water, JJM follows the principle of 'no one is left out' and accords priority to water-scarce, drought-prone, desert, quality-affected, tribal and Aspirational districts, SC/ST majority villages, JE-AES affected districts and Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana villages.

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