New Delhi, Nov 29, : More than 3.15 lakh rural habitations with 18.67% population get less water than 40 litres per day (lpcd), while 0.43 lakh (2.36%) rural habitations with 2.36 percent population are reported to have water quality problems in drinking water sources. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Union Minister for Jal Shikti), said to the Rajya Sabha that 13.38 lakh (78.7 percent) of the country’s 17.01 lakh rural habitations had provision of potable water with more than 40lpcd as of November 25.
In a statement made to the House, Shekhawat stated that water supply and sanitation is a state subject and that the government provides financial and technical assistance to assist the efforts of the states.Shekhawat was responding to a star question by Lt Gen D.P.Vats stated that the Centre, in partnership with the states since August 2019, is implementing the “Jal Jeevan Mission” (JJM – Har Ghar Jal) to provide potable tap water supply to all rural households of the country by 2024.
Shekhawat stated that tap water supply was provided for 8.56 million (44.5 percent) rural households in the country at an estimated cost of Rs 3.60 lakh crore.
The ‘Swachh Bharat Mission-Gamin (SBM – G)’ was launched to make rural areas open defecation-free (ODF) and provide toilets for all rural households.It cost an estimated Rs 1.34 lakh crore.Ten crore household toilets were constructed.
According to the minister, 100% of rural households now have toilet access.
SBM(G), 2.0 has been implemented in partnership with the states since April 2020.This is to maintain the ODF status for villages and to cover all villages with solid waste management by 2024-25.The estimated cost of SBM(G) 2.0 will be Rs 1.40 lakh crore.
The 15th Finance Commission tied grant of Rs 26,940 crore has been made available to rural local bodies/Panchayati Raj institutions to ensure water supply and sanitation in the villages.
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