KASHIRAM RANA URGED STATES TO COMPLETE
RURAL WATER QUALITY SURVEY BY SEPTEMBER 2003
CENTRAL
ASSISTANCE WORTH RS.149.45 CRORE RELEASED TO DROUGHT/FLOOD AFFECTED
STATES FOR RURAL WATER SUPPLY DURING LAST 2 YEARS
4896
PROJECTS APPROVED UNDER SWAJALDHARA
CONSULTATIVE
COMMITTEE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT MEETS
Shri Kashiram Rana,
Union Minister for Rural Development has urged the State Governments
to complete Rural Water Quality Survey by September 2003. A strategy
is required for addressing the problems relating to quality of
water as emerges out of the survey will be devised and further
action may be taken thereon. Over 2 lakh rural habitations are
facing quality problems due to excess flouride/arsenic / salinity/
iron and nitrate in drinking water. This was informed by him while
addressing Consultative Committee Meeting attached to Ministry
of Rural Development here today. Shri Annasaheb M.K. Patil, Minister
of State for Rural Development was also present.
Shri Rana informed
that the Ministry has decided that from the funds available under
the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP), 5% will
be earmarked for meeting requirements in the rural water supply
sector arising out of natural calamities like drought, flood,
earthquake etc. Officials from Rural Development visited the drought
affected States, made assessment of the requirement in the matter
of drinking water supply and based on their reports, releases
worth Rs. 77.73 crore were made to 10 States for drought / flood
during 2002-03. For this current financial year, Rs. 71.72 crores
have been released to 7 states under this head.
Referring to the
agenda, Shri Rana highlighted the Central and State Governments
together have invested more than Rs.40,000 crore in this sector.
As a result, it has been possible to achieve coverage of about
92% of the rural habitations fully with water supply as per the
norm of 40 liters per capita per day. About less than 7% of the
habitations have been Partially Covered and, there is only less
than 1% of Not Covered habitations in the country. Rural habitations
in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil
Nadu and Uttar Pradesh are fully covered with drinking water supply.
Listing out various
steps taken by the Ministry on reform process in the rural water
supply sector, Shri Rana highlighted that during 2002-2003, 4896
projects were approved under Swajaldhara at a cost of Rs.288.09
crore. During 2003-2004, Rs. 200 crore have been allocated to
the State Governments under Swajaldhara Programme.
Shri Rana informed
that the Department of Drinking Water Supply has followed up the
announcement made by the Hon’ble Prime Minister as part of his
Independence Day speech on 15th August 2002 relating
to installation of 1 lakh hand pumps, coverage of 1 lakh primary
schools and revival of 1 lakh traditional water sources. Detailed
guidelines for the implementation of these programmes have been
issued and funds have also been released for the purpose of implementing
these programmes by the State Governments.
Stressing the need
for Water Conservation, Shri Rana pointed out that 5% of the funds
under Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme are released to
the States exclusively for taking up projects on rain water harvesting,
water recharge and other water conservation measures. Shri Rana
suggested that If we can arrest the run off to some extent, and
thereby improve the recharge, the ground water position will improve
substantially.
Members gave valuable
suggestions regarding water conservation, to check cutting of
trees in order to improve ground water level and to highlight
reform process in rural water supply sector. They lauded the efforts
made by Rural Development Ministry in Drought-Mitigation Measures
in the affected states.
Members who attended
the meeting are S/Shri/ E. Ponnuswamy, B.C. Yadav, C. Wanga, A.F.
Golam Osmani, Ms. Rama Pilot, B.P. Solanki, B.l. Meena, Shivaji
Mane, R.S. Shakya, Saif-ud-din-soz, Ms. G. Indira and M. Rajbangshi.
