New Delhi, May 9, 2012: The Centre has urged the States to prioritise the coverage of quality affected habitations in their Annual Action Plan under National Rural Drinking Water Program (NRDWP). In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha yesterday, Union Rural Development Minister Shri Jairam Ramesh said, in 2012-2013, only 25,853 quality affected habitations are targeted to be covered by States with provision of safe drinking water facilities.

The minister informed that as on 01.04.2012, out of the 16 lakh 64 thousand and 184 rural habitations in the country, there were 99,380 quality affected habitations in which at least one drinking water source is affected by Iron, Fluoride, Arsenic, Salinity and Nitrate contamination. He also informed that under the NRDWP, State Governments are competent to plan, design, approve and implement rural drinking water supply schemes and upto 62 percent of the central funds can be utilized for providing potable drinking water to affected habitations. (Source: PIB)

Also Read:

• 500 crore rupees earmarked for tackling water quality problems-Jairam Ramesh