NITI Aayog in its report titled “Composite Water Management Index (CWMI)” published in June 2018, has referred to “WRI; World Bank (Hindustan Times, The Hindu)” and mentioned “...21 major cities are expected to run out of groundwater as soon as 2020”. However, this is based on the estimates of annual ground water replenishment and its extraction and does not take into account the ground water availability in the deeper aquifers.

Further, NITI Aayog in CWMI Report 2018 referring to “Water Aid, ‘Water: At What Cost? The State of the World’s Water 2016”, has reported that “Treating waste water is important as water contamination is a significant challenge for India, and is estimated to affect three-fourth of the Indian population,..”

As per information available with Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDW&S) as reported by States/UTs, as on 04.04.2022, out of 17.01 lakh rural habitations of the country, 29,442 (1.73%) rural habitations having 1.36% population are reported to have water quality issues in drinking water sources.

Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of water resources are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments. In order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments, Central Government provides technical and financial assistance to them through various schemes and programmes.

Government of India, in partnership with States, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)-Har Ghar Jal which aims at providing potable water in adequate quantity of prescribed quality on regular and long-term basis to every rural household through tap water connection by 2024. Under JJM, while allocating the funds to States/UTs, 10% weightage is given to the population residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants.

Under JJM, States/ UTs have been advised to carry out testing of drinking water sources and an online JJM – Water Quality Management Information System (WQMIS) portal has been developed. The State–wise details of water quality test reported through WQMIS is available in public domain on JJM Dashboard and can also be accessed at: https://neer.icmr.org.in/website/main.php

To encourage water quality testing to ensure potable drinking water supply, States/UTs have been advised to open water quality testing laboratories to general public at a nominal rate for testing of their water samples.

Further, States/ UTs have been advised to install Community Water Purification Plants (CWPPs), especially in Arsenic and Fluoride affected habitations to provide potable water to every household at the rate of 8–10 litre per capita per day (lpcd) to meet their drinking and cooking requirements till piped water supply schemes based on a safe water source.

Data on ground water quality available with CGWB are being shared with concerned State Governments for taking necessary remedial measures. The study of Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) indicates the occurrence of fluoride, arsenic, nitrate, iron and heavy metals beyond the BIS permissible limits in isolated pockets in various parts of the country.

Under the Namami Ganga Programme (NGP) of Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), forestry interventions are being undertaken as per DPR prepared by the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun for site specific plantation along the banks of river Ganga. NMCG has funded the Ganga bank State Forest Departments of Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal since 2016-17 and have spent Rs. 301.15 cr. for plantation in 29,326 hectares area under NGP.

Under NGP,a total of 366 projects have been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs. 30,922.76 cr. Out of the 366 projects, 166 sewage infrastructure projects at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 24,977 cr. has been taken up for creation and rehabilitation of 5024 MLD of STP capacity and laying of 5227 km of sewage network, out of which 78 projects have been completed resulting in creation and rehabilitation of 1169 MLD of STP and laying of 3908 km of sewage network till February, 2022.

CGWB constructs wells for Exploration of Ground Water. Successful contamination- free wells are handed over to the State Governments for gainful utilization. Under the National Aquifer Mapping Programme (NAQUIM) of CGWB, special attention is being given to the aspect of ground water quality. Further, so far, 513 exploratory wells tapping arsenic safe aquifers have been constructed under NAQUIM programme including 40 in Bihar, 188 in West Bengal and 285 in Uttar Pradesh. In addition, the innovative cement sealing technique of CGWB has been shared with the state agencies to utilize for constructing arsenic free wells.

Awareness generation programmes/ workshop on various aspects of ground water, including preventing ground water pollution and safe use of contaminated water are being conducted by CGWB periodically.

Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR,RD&GR), MoJS has issued guidelines for control and regulation of groundwater extraction, with pan-India applicability, notified on 24th September 2020. The guidelines include clauses on ‘Measures to be adopted to ensure prevention from pollution in the plant premises of polluting industries/projects’.

DoWR,RD&GR has been supplementing efforts of the States/UTs by providing financial and technical assistance for abatement of pollution in identified stretches of rivers in the country through Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for rivers excluding Ganga river basin. NRCP has so far covered polluted stretches on 34 rivers in 77 towns spread over 16 States in the country.

35670712792774. of India has launched AMRUT 2.0 on 1st October, 2021 for a period of 5 years (FY 2021- 22 to 2025-26), with the objective of providing universal coverage of water supply through functional household tap connections in all statutory towns in the country. AMRUT 2.0 focuses on making cities water secure through recycle/reuse of treated sewage, rejuvenation of water bodies and water conservation.

Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA:CTR) - 2022 has been launched by Hon’ble President on 29.03.2022 in all districts (rural as well as urban areas) of the country with the main theme “Catch the Rain, where it falls, when it falls”.

This Information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written  reply in Lok Sabha today.

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