The Centre released Rs 800 crore in 2016 for commissioning community water purification plants for providing safe drinking water, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.
In a written reply, S S Ahluwalia, Minister of State in the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, informed the parliament that acting on the recommendations of NITI Ayog, the central government had released Rs 800 crore in March, 2016, for commissioning community water purification plants.
"In addition, funds to the tune of Rs 100 crore each is being provided for tackling arsenic and fluoride problems in West Bengal and Rajasthan, respectively for the last-mile connectivity in commissioning surface water based piped water supply schemes," he said.
The minister also provided a state-wise list of arsenic-affected habitations, reported by states in the Integrated Management Information System this month.
According to the list, 17 districts of Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab with 4,520, 748 and 728 habitations respectively, have been worst-affected by contamination of water.
While replying to a question on steps taken by the government on providing safe drinking water to those living in the affected areas, Ahluwalia said though rural drinking water supply was a state subject, the Centre supplements the efforts of the states by providing them with technical and financial assistance through the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP).
He added that the funds provided to the states under NRDWP could be utilised for coverage and tackling water quality problems with a priority to arsenic and fluoride affected habitations.
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