Lok Sabha Question No. 4481 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-19
Subject: Rural Water Security in Moradabad District
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Mrs Ruchi Vira

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4481 ANSWERED ON 19/03/2026

## RURAL WATER SECURITY IN MORADABAD DISTRICT

## †4481. MRS RUCHI VIRA:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  comprehensive  review  of  drinking  water availability, groundwater sustainability and rural water security in Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh, particularly in Kundarki, Bilari, Thakurdwara and the low-lying villages adjacent to the  Ramganga  river  where  the  use  of  water  for  domestic  purpose,  agriculture  and  animal husbandry is being affected due to declining groundwater levels, water quality risks, seasonal water crises and uneven supply of water despite the implementation of national water supply schemes;

(b) if so, the details of the source sustainability studies, groundwater recharge works, drinking water infrastructure upgrades, water quality monitoring systems and inter-agency coordination measures undertaken in the said district to ensure long-term water security; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) Government of India is committed to make provision for safe & potable tap water supply in adequate quantity (55 lpcd), of prescribed quality and on a regular & long-term basis to all rural households in the country. Towards this end, the Government of India launched the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), to be implemented in partnership with States/ UTs in August 2019.

Drinking  Water  is  a  state  subject,  and  hence,  the  responsibility  of  planning,  approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including those under JJM, lies with State/UT Governments. The Government of India supports the States/UTs by providing technical and financial assistance.

State of Uttar Pradesh has informed that under Jal Jeevan Mission program, rural piped water schemes are being constructed in all rural areas of Moradabad district (comprising blocks of Kundarki, Bilari, and Thakurdwara) under "Har Ghar Jal (Water Tap in Every Home) initiative. As part of this effort, rainwater harvesting structures are being constructed within the water campus  premises  of  every  rural  drinking  water  scheme.  Furthermore,  according  to  the Groundwater Resource Assessment Report covering the period from 2022 to 2025: the Bilari

block is catergoriezed "Critical" in 2022 and "Semi-Critical" in 2025; the Kundarki block is categorized  as  "Semi-Critical"  in  both  2022  and  2025;  and  the  Thakurdwara  block  is categorized as "Safe" in both 2022 and 2025. Currently, no village within Moradabad district has been identified as falling under the category of "Water Quality Risks".

Further, CGWB has informed that as per the latest 2025 assessment, the Total Annual Ground Water Recharge in Moradabad district has been estimated at 71,151.24 Hectare Metre (HAM), while the Annual Extractable Ground Water Resource is 64,036.11 HAM. The Total Annual Ground Water Extraction in the district is estimated at 55,270.63 HAM, out of which 43,841.46 HAM (79.32%) is for irrigation and 10,462.11 HAM (18.93%) for domestic use.

CGWB manually monitors groundwater levels throughout the country including the state of Uttar  Pradesh,  four  times  in  every  year  during  the  months  of  March/April/May,  August, November and January.

(b) & (c) State of Uttar Pradesh has informed that under the Jal Jeevan Mission program, rural drinking water schemes are constructed in all rural areas of Moradabad district (comprising the blocks of  Kundarki, Bilari, and Thakurdwara) under Jal Jeevan Mission. Water conservation structures  are  being  constructed  within  the  water  campus  premised  of  every  rural  drinking water  scheme.  Further,  ponds  and  similar  structures  are  constructed  in  rural  areas  for groundwater  recharge  purposes  by  various  departments  like  Irrigation  Department,  Minor Irrigation  Department,  Ground  Water  Department,  Panchayati  Raj  Department  and  Rural Development Department etc.

Further, CGWB has informed that various measures have been taken by the Government of India to support groundwater sustainability and long-term water security in Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh, including Kundarki, Bilari and Thakurdwara blocks.

Under JJM, as per existing guidelines, Bureau of Indian Standards' BIS:10500 standards are adopted as benchmark for quality  of  water  being  supplied  through  the  piped  water  supply schemes. As per the Operational Guidelines, States/ UTs can utilize up to 2% of their annual allocation  of  funds  under  JJM  for  Water  Quality  Monitoring  &  Surveillance  (WQM&S) activities,  inter-alia,  which  includes  setting  up  and  strengthening  of  water  quality  testing laboratories,  procurement  of  equipment,  instruments,  chemicals,  glassware,  consumables, hiring of skilled manpower, surveillance by community using field test kits (FTKs), awareness generation, educational programmes on water quality, accreditation/recognition of laboratories,  etc.  Also,  in  consultation  with  various  stakeholders  'Concise  Handbook  for Monitoring Water Quality of Piped Drinking Water Supply to Rural Households' has been released in December 2024 for guidance to States/ UT's. This handbook recommended for a comprehensive testing of drinking water samples at various testing points such as source (both surface and ground water), treatment plant, storage and distribution points, and remedial action wherever necessary, to ensure that the water supplied to households is of prescribed quality.

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