Lok Sabha Question No. 2188 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-12
Subject: Drinking Water Supply and Climate-resilient Infrastructure in Uttarakhand
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2188

ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026

## DRINKING WATER SUPPLY AND CLIMATE-RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE IN UTTARAKHAND

## 2188. SHRI TRIVENDRA SINGH RAWAT

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that several hilly and disaster-prone districts of Uttarakhand continue  to  face  seasonal  drinking  water  shortages,  source  depletion,  pipeline  damage  due  to landslides  and  water  quality  issues  despite  significant  progress  under  the  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  as reported in recent assessments;

(b)  if  so,  the  details  and  the  status  of  Functional  Household  Tap  Connections,  water  quality monitoring results and source sustainability measures in Uttarakhand, district-wise;

(c) the steps taken by the Government to strengthen climate-resilient drinking water infrastructure including gravity-based schemes, rainwater harvesting, spring rejuvenation and real-time monitoring in remote hilly areas; and

(d)  whether  any  additional  financial  assistance,  technical  support  or  any  special  dispensation  is proposed for Uttarakhand considering its fragile Himalayan ecology and recurring natural disasters and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) Drinking water is a State subject. The power to plan, design, approve and implement drinking water supply schemes/projects lies with State Government. Government of India, in partnership with States/UTs is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission, since August, 2019, to make provision of tap water  supply  to  every  rural  household.  Under  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  (JJM),  the  Department  of Drinking Water and Sanitation provides financial, policy guidance and technical assistance to the States and Union Territories for implementing their drinking water supply schemes.

As reported  by  the  State  Government,  the  State  Government  is  aware  that  in  several  hilly  and disaster-prone districts of Uttarakhand, despite significant progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission, seasonal drinking water shortages, depletion of water sources, damage to pipelines due to landslides, and issues related to drinking water quality continue to persist in certain areas. To address these challenges,  the  Government  is  undertaking  necessary  measures  including  strengthening  and

conservation of water sources, development of alternative drinking water sources, timely repair of damaged  infrastructure, regular water  quality testing, and  strengthening  of  operation  and maintenance (O&M) arrangements.

(b) To enable States/ UTs to test water samples for water quality, and for sample collection, reporting,  monitoring  and  surveillance  of  drinking  water,  an  online  JJM  -  Water  Quality Management Information System (WQMIS) portal has been developed.  The quality monitoring system includes regular testing via Field Testing Kits (FTKs) and Laboratory Testing: Utilizing a network of 28 regional and district laboratories for detailed chemical and bacteriological analysis.

In 2025-26, as per JJM WQMIS, a total of 80,856 samples were tested in Labs for chemical parameters, 89,187 samples were tested for bacteriological parameters. The State-wise details of water quality test reported through WQMIS are available in public domain on JJM Dashboard and can be accessed at

## https://ejalshakti.gov.in/WQMIS/Main/report.

Furthermore, as on 11.02.2026, the district-wise status of provision of Household Tap Connections and Water quality testing status in Uttarakhand is at Annex I & Annex II .

(c)  State Government has reported that the State has taken key measures to strengthen ClimateResilient Drinking Water Infrastructure. The details of these steps are as under:

- i) Source Sustainability and Conservation :  Under  the  Jal  Jeevan  Mission,  the  identification, conservation, and augmentation of water sources have been made mandatory components. At the  village  level,  the  mission  includes  ensuring  the  conservation  of  water  sources  (through rainwater harvesting and recharge structures), groundwater recharging, and water sanitation, under these initiatives.
2. ii) Decentralized  and  Localized  Schemes: In  hilly  terrains,  where  gravity-based  systems  are adopted. In remote and densely forested areas the local geomorphological conditions are taken into design consideration. This approach ensures that in disaster-prone regions, the supply is not solely  dependent  on  vulnerable  electrical  grids  but  relies  on  gravity-based  distribution  to enhance resilience.
3. iii) Digital Monitoring of assets: For advanced technologies are being implemented to enable realtime  tracking  of  status  of  the  Water  Supply  Network:  Monitoring  the  pumping  schemes  in certain areas on pilot basis. On the PM Gati shakti platform the entire piped water supply system is  being  mapped  to  record  all  the  assets  of  water  supply  scheme.  The  tools  like 'Jal  Seva Ankalan' are being used to capture the functionality of schemes directly from Local bodies and take remedial action by District water and sanitation Mission.

(d)  As  per  the  instructions  of  Ministry  of  Finance  during  the  Mission  period,  the  operational guidelines for the implementation of the JJM provided 25% of the Scheme's annual allocation of funds to the States could be used as flexi-funds. For meeting the immediate requirement of funds

for post disaster recovery works, flexi-funds available with States under JJM could be used. States/ UTs are advised to set aside at least 5% of the annual allocation under JJM to take care of unforeseen challenges/ issues arising out of natural disasters/ calamities and internal disturbances, which might be used by the State for coverage at the flag end of the financial year, if remain unutilized.

Further, as informed by the State Government, the State Government has constituted a State-level Spring  and  River  Rejuvenation  Authority  (SARRA)  to  address  the  adverse  impacts  of  climate change  and  human  activities  on  natural  water  sources  and  river  flows,  identification  of  critical sources, providing technical solutions and monitoring.

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## Annex I

Annexure referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2188 answered on 12.02.2026.

## Status of tap water connections as on 11.02.2026

| S. No.   | District         | Total Rural Households   | Total household connection reported till date   |   %of total household connections with PWS reported till date |
|----------|------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.       | Almora           | 1,26,063                 | 1,16,506                                        |                                                         92.42 |
| 2.       | Bageshwar        | 54,659                   | 54,659                                          |                                                        100    |
| 3.       | Chamoli          | 76,716                   | 76,638                                          |                                                         99.9  |
| 4.       | Champawat        | 45,086                   | 45,000                                          |                                                         99.81 |
| 5.       | Dehradun         | 1,29,491                 | 1,29,449                                        |                                                         99.97 |
| 6.       | Haridwar         | 2,49,303                 | 2,40,751                                        |                                                         96.57 |
| 7.       | Nainital         | 1,14,156                 | 1,07,083                                        |                                                         93.8  |
| 8.       | Pauri Garhwal    | 1,11,552                 | 1,10,723                                        |                                                         99.26 |
| 9.       | Pithoragarh      | 94,474                   | 94,137                                          |                                                         99.64 |
| 10.      | Rudra Prayag     | 54,880                   | 54,847                                          |                                                         99.94 |
| 11.      | Tehri Garhwal    | 1,29,045                 | 1,28,689                                        |                                                         99.72 |
| 12.      | Udam Singh Nagar | 1,97,905                 | 1,94,788                                        |                                                         98.43 |
| 13.      | Uttar Kashi      | 65,013                   | 65,002                                          |                                                         99.98 |
|          | Total            | 14,48,343                | 14,18,272                                       |                                                         97.92 |

Annexure referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2188 answered on 12.02.2026.

Water quality testing Status during 2025-26 as on 11.02.2026

| District         | No. of samples tested in laboratory   | No. of samples tested in laboratory   |
|------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
|                  | Tested for chemical parameters        | Tested for bacteriological parameters |
| Almora           | 7,003                                 | 8,196                                 |
| Bageshwar        | 2,870                                 | 3,113                                 |
| Chamoli          | 5,955                                 | 6,399                                 |
| Champawat        | 2,475                                 | 2,477                                 |
| Dehradun         | 5,856                                 | 7,367                                 |
| Haridwar         | 3,309                                 | 3,779                                 |
| Nainital         | 7,796                                 | 8,364                                 |
| Pauri Garhwal    | 13,614                                | 13,878                                |
| Pithoragarh      | 5,694                                 | 7,014                                 |
| Rudra Prayag     | 3,551                                 | 3,552                                 |
| Tehri Garhwal    | 12,143                                | 13,407                                |
| Udam Singh Nagar | 4,516                                 | 4,705                                 |
| Uttar Kashi      | 6,074                                 | 6,936                                 |
| Total            | 80,856                                | 89,187                                |

Source: JJM-IMIS