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Question raised in Lok Sabha on Contamination of Ground Water, 01/12/2016

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Contamination of Ground Water, 01/12/2016. Ground water quality data generated by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) during various scientific studies and ground water quality monitoring indicates that ground water in isolated pockets in parts of various States including Delhi and Bihar is contaminated with Fluoride, Nitrate, Arsenic, etc.The number of Blocks in each State, affected with ground water contamination are given at Annexure-I. To increase availability of drinking water, the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation has suggested all States to adopt water conservation measures like roof top rainwater harvesting, erecting sustainability structures for water conservation etc. For creating such sustainability structures, 10 % of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) fund is provided to the States. State-wise details of expenditures are given at Annexure II(a) to II(d). Department of Land Resources is currently implementing 8214 watershed development projects in 28 States (except Goa) covering an area of about 39.07 million ha. under the Watershed Development Component (WDC) of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) principally for development of rainfed portions of net cultivated area and culturable wastelands. The major activities taken up under the WDC-PMKSY, inter-alia, include ridge area treatment, drainage line afforestation, soil and moisture conservation, rain water harvesting, horticulture, pasture development , creation of livelihoods for asset-less person, etc. State wise details of funds released are in Annexure –III. Under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the water conservation and water harvesting structures to augment ground water constitute special focus area on recharging ground water including drinking water sources. State wise details of expenditures on Natural Resources Management under MGNREGA are at Annexure – IV.