The Standing Committee has mobilized the Ministry of Water Resources because it does not provide safe drinking water in areas polluted by iron and high salinity.

Represent the image. Photo: Reuters/Munish Sharma

New Delhi: The Parliamentary Committee stated in its latest report that as many as 48,969 rural houses were affected by water pollution.

It also noted with concern that, despite this situation, the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganges Rehabilitation “remains silent” when it needs to take action to ensure that clean drinking water reaches houses affected by pollutants.

The Standing Committee, chaired by Sanjay Jaiswal, a member of the House of Commons, and composed of 20 other members of the House of Commons and 8 members of the House of Commons, provided opinions in the report. Suggested action. Report.

The fourteenth report of the Standing Committee of Water Resources submitted last week also pointed out the reasons why the water supply was polluted by arsenic, fluoride, iron, nitrate, heavy metals and high salinity.

It pointed out that among rural houses affected by water pollution, “3,112 houses were affected by arsenic pollution, 2,972 were affected by fluoride, 31,142 were polluted by iron, 866 were polluted by nitrates, and 300 were polluted by heavy metals. 10,575 were affected by high salinity."

Also read: High levels of arsenic found in groundwater in Uttar Pradesh

The Committee further noted that under the National Water Proton Task (NWQSM) launched in March 2017-as part of the original National Rural Drinking Water Plan-a plan was developed to provide 27,544 identified arsenic or fluoride Safe drinking water-affect rural residents by March 2021.

Among them, it added, “As of February 15, 2021, with the exception of 78 houses, the remaining houses have been included in the plan.”

Iron pollution and high salinity have yet to be resolved

However, the committee pointed out that water pollution by iron and salt is still a major problem. It added: “The department remains silent on actions taken to provide clean drinking water to homes affected by other pollutants, such as iron and salinity, which make up most of the water quality of the affected homes.”

Therefore, the parliamentary group recommended that the department focus its attention on these residential areas.

The committee also stated that “although tap water supply is the only way to solve water quality problems, before tap water is supplied to each rural household/dwelling house, community water purification plants should be installed instead of arranging the supply of clean water (CWPPs) in the country. Every Gram Panchayat/residence."

The expert group expressed doubts about the adequacy of CWPP

The committee stated that it is reported that so far, countries have established 32,277 CWPPs in the country. However, it stated that it "is doubtful whether these CWPPs are sufficient to meet the requirements of all residential areas affected by quality."

Also read: IIT Kharagpur study finds that 20% of India has high levels of arsenic in groundwater

Therefore, it recommends that the department consult with the states to evaluate the overall requirements of CWPP and develop an action plan to establish sufficient CWPP in all places of residence.

The group stated that the department stated in its response to actions that “based on safe water sources, it takes time to plan and implement pipeline water supply plans in houses affected by water quality” and “purely as a temporary measure, regulations have been formulated”. Establish a community water purification plant (CWPP) to provide 8-10 lpcd of drinking water to meet the drinking and cooking needs of each family in these dwellings. "

When referring to the response, the committee stated that “it did not specify whether it has formulated any action plans to establish CWPP in all residential areas affected by water quality.” Therefore, the group requested that “a time-bound plan be formulated in consultation with the countries concerned. In order to establish CWPP in all residential areas affected by water quality."