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 Nitrate, Iron and Salinity beyond permissible limits (as per BIS) for human consumption in isolated pockets in various States / UTs. The details in this regard are given at 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 1^st June, 2019 to 31^st May, 2020. Details in this regard are given at Annexure II.

Water demand in the country is continuously increasing due to population rise, industrialization & urbanization etc which are contributing to rise in contaminants level in rivers and groundwater. Excessive use of fertilizers in the agriculture practices may also be considered as one of the factor for contamination in groundwater and surface water sources.

Water being a State subject, initiatives on water management, including its quality is primarily States’ 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.

Further, AMRUT- 2.0 was launched on 01^st October 2021 for the period of 05 years (FY 2021-22 to 2025-26), with the objective of providing universal coverage of water supply through functional household tap connection in all statutory towns in the country.

Contaminants level in groundwater can be reduced to some extent if groundwater is recharged through rainwater harvesting. Government of India in this regard has taken up a number of initiatives/schemes like Jal Shakti Abiyan, PMKSY-Watershed development, MGNREGA, Atal Bhujal Yojana etc. The JSA in this regard was initiated in 2019 which continued during 2021 and 2022 also. Further, the JSA for the years 2021 and 2022 have been launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister and Hon’ble President of India respectively. The JSA has given special emphasis on creation of recharge structures, rejuvenation of traditional water bodies, intensive afforestation etc for effective rainfall harvesting.

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

*****

AS

ANNEXURE I

States Wise Number of Partly Affected Districts with Salinity, Iron and Nitrate contaminants in Ground Water of India

ANNEXURE II

REGARDING “CONTAMINATION OF GROUND WATER”.

Study Period (2019-20)

*****