GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3851
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2023
ARSENIC CONTAMINATION
3851. SHRI RAMESH CHANDRA MAJHI:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that there is a sharp increase in diseases caused by arsenic contamination in the country particularly in the backward and rural areas and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government proposes to take concrete steps with the help of foreign health experts /organisations for alleviation of diseases which have spread in the country due to arsenic contamination and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the financial assistance provided by the Government to the States for this purpose during the last three years, year-wise; and

(d) whether the State Governments have sought additional allocation of funds from the Union Government in this regard and if so, the details thereof along with the actiontaken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE(PROF. SATYA PAL SINGH BAGHEL)

(a) to (d): Provision of safe drinking water and health services falls within the remit of the State/UT Governments. However, the Government of India has taken several steps for alleviation of diseases spreading due to arsenic contamination as follows:

2024. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal, has been implemented by Ministry of Jal Shakti in partnership with States, to make provision of potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular & long-term basis to every rural household by 2024.
2025. Under Jal Jeevan Mission, States/ UTs have been advised to plan and implement piped water supply schemes of bulk water transfer and is also advised to install Community Water Purification Plants (CWPPs) especially in Arsenic and Fluoride affected habitations to provide potable water to every household. 

iii. Under the National Aquifer Mapping Programme (NAQUIM) of Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), special attention is given to the aspect of ground water quality including contamination by toxic substances such as Arsenic in ground water. Further, under NAQUIM, CGWB constructs arsenic safe exploratory wells in arsenic affected parts of the States of West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The arsenic safe deeper aquifer zones have been identified and wells have been constructed tapping the arsenic safe deeper aquifers using innovative cement sealing technique. As of March 2022, 522 exploratory wells tapping arsenic safe aquifers have been constructed under NAQUIM programme including 40 in Bihar, 188 in West Bengal and 294 in Uttar Pradesh. In addition, the innovative cement sealing technique of CGWB has been shared with the state agencies to utilize to construct arsenic free wells.

1. Under The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Central Pollution Control Board (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. v. A Comprehensive Ground Water Conservation Plan is prepared by Ministry of Jal Shakti

for optimum usage of ground water and measures to harvest water to improve ground water charging. Actions are proposed for strict action against illegal extraction of ground water. Also, based on the assessment of ground water quality, wherever concentration of Fluoride, Arsenic and other Heavy Metals were found exceeding Bureau of Indian Drinking Water Standards, concerned States/ UTs were requested to direct concerned State Department to take actions such as:

1. Sealing of hand pumps/ wells having contaminated ground water
2. Display sign board indicating (Not Fit for Drinking Water purposes) in vernacular language.

c. Arrangement of alternate drinking water supply in the affected areas. Under National Health Mission (NHM) funds are released to States/UTs under flexible pools on a lumpsum basis to provide greater flexibility to states/UTs to utilize the funds as per their felt need and priorities. The Central release under National Health Mission (NHM) from the F.Y 2020-21 to F.Y. 2022-23 is placed at Annexure.