Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) generates ground water quality data of the country on a regional scale as part of its ground water quality monitoring program and various scientific studies. These studies indicate the occurrence of contaminants such as Iron, Salinity and Nitrate beyond permissible limits (as per BIS) for human consumption in isolated pockets in various States / UTs viz. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. The details of State-wise Number of Partly Affected Districts with Salinity, Iron and Nitrate Contaminants in Ground Water of India are given in Annexure I.

Further, Central Water Commission (CWC) generates surface water quality information with respect to rivers in the country through various sites located in various parts of the country. As per the information for the period August, 2018 to December, 2020, iron parameter were found to have values more than the prescribed standard for drinking water (as per BIS)  at 414  sites located in certain river basins falling in the States of Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Gujarat, Manipur, Delhi, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim.  In addition, the value of Nitrates were found beyond prescribed limits for drinking water (as per BIS) at 8 sites out of 588 sites for water year 1st June, 2019 to 31st May, 2020. Details in this regard are given at Annexure II.

  Water being a State subject, initiatives on water management, including its quality is primarily States’s responsibility; however, various steps have been taken by the Central Government for controlling water contamination in the country.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees (SPCBs/PCCs) is implementing the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control) Act, 1974 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to prevent and control pollution in water.  CPCB has made a comprehensive programme on water pollution for controlling point sources by developing industry specific standards and general standards for discharge of effluents notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for enforcement by SPCBs/PCCs.  As per the directives of CPCB, Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) are installed by the industrial units in the country for getting real time information on the effluent quality and non-complying units are identified for follow-up inspections and actions.

The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has issued guidelines for control and regulation of groundwater extraction with pan-India applicability notified on 24 September 2020.  The guidelines include suitable provisions on measures to be adopted to ensure groundwater free from pollution.

The water pollution also owe its origin to contamination of surface water sources for which various efforts have been made in the country by installing Sewage Treatment Plants, Effluent Treatment Plants and better system of sewage networks etc. However, the adverse effects of the water pollution can be addressed to a large extent if safe water is made available to public. With this aim, central Government in partnership with States, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) since August, 2019 to provide potable tap water supply of prescribed quality to every rural household in the country by 2024.

In addition, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs supplements the efforts of the States/ UTs through its programmes and policies.  Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) is one of such programmes, which was launched on June 25, 2015, in selected  500 cities and towns across the country.  The Mission focuses on development of basic urban infrastructure in the AMRUT cities, such as water supply, sewerage & septage management, storm water drainage, green spaces & parks, and non-motorized urban transport.

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

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Annexure-I

States wise number of partly affected Districts with different Contaminants in Ground Water of India.

Annexure – II

                                    Study Period (2019-20)

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BY/AS