Ensuring Availability of Safe and Adequate Drinking Water Supply Facility in all Rural Habitations

The Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation reviews the implementation of the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) periodically by conducting national and regional review meetings and video conferences with the State Department officers dealing with rural water supply. A National Consultation with State Secretaries in-charge of Rural Drinking Water Supply of all States was held on 18 February 2013 followed by a Consultation with State Ministers In-charge of Rural Drinking Water Supply on 19 February 2013. In the Consultation, the State/UT-wise physical and financial performance under NRDWP in the current year were reviewed, good practices adopted in various states were shared and the need for a Communication Strategy on rural water supply was discussed. The progress of States in the implementation of the NRDWP is also being reviewed during the Annual Action Plan discussions 2013 – 14 being held with the States. States are being advised to expedite physical and financial progress in achieving targets under the Programme. Senior Officers/ Technical Officers of the Ministry also visit the States to observe the progress of implementation of the programme. The review meetings and visits provide information about the implementation of the Programme and enable the Government of India and State Governments to focus on the areas where progress is lacking.

To ensure availability of safe and adequate drinking water supply facility in all rural habitations within a timeframe, rural drinking water has been included as a component of Bharat Nirman. At the commencement of Bharat Nirman on 1.4.2005, 55067 uncovered habitations, 3,31,604 slipped back/partially covered habitations and 2,16,968 quality affected habitations were identified. Of these targeted habitations, at the end of Bharat Nirman Phase-I, on 31.3.2009, there were 627 uncovered, 5,09,403 slipped back/partially covered and 1,79,999 quality affected habitations yet to be covered with provision of safe and adequate drinking water. As on 1.4.2012, there are no uncovered habitations remaining in the country. However as reported by the States out of the 16,64,186 rural habitations in the country 1,04,160 are quality affected and 330,504 partially covered/slipped back habitations. State Governments have been urged to prepare their Annual Action Plans targeting to cover these habitations on priority basis. To achieve the target of providing safe and adequate drinking water to all habitations in the country, the allocation of funds for rural drinking water has been increased substantially from Rs. 2,585 cr. in the year 2004-05 to Rs. 10,500 cr. in 2012-13.



The targets set and achievements made in coverage of rural habitations with safe and adequate drinking water supply under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) during each of the last three years and the current year, as reported by the States/ UTs on the online Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of the Ministry, State/ UT-wise is as follows:



see Annexure 1

Shri Bharatsinh Solanki Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry Of Drinking Water and Sanitation provided this information in reply to a question in Lok Sabha today( March 21. 2013).