RAJYA SABHA

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development Ms. Agatha Aangma today informed the Rajya Sabha that Consumption of water containing certain contaminants in excess of the prescribed limit is harmful to human health viz. excess Fluoride may cause dental, skeletal and non-skeletal fluorosis, excess Arsenic may cause arsenicosis and related diseases; excess nitrate may cause methaemoglobinemia in infants and bacteriological contamination may cause typhoid, diarrhea, dysentery, etc.

In reply to a written question the minister said Water is a state subject and Government of India assists the States financially and technically in their efforts to provide potable water to rural habitations under the centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). Under Bharat Nirman–Rural drinking water component, all habitations having water quality problems are to be covered with provision of potable water.

As reported by the States in the online Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of the Department, as on 1.4.2009, there were about 1.80 lakh rural habitations in the country affected with excess chemical contaminants viz. Arsenic, Fluoride, Iron, salinity and nitrate in ground-water based drinking water sources. A statement showing State-wise number of rural habitations with various contaminants in ground water based drinking water sources is annexed.

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Number of quality-affected rural habitations as reported by the States in the Online Integrated Management Information System (as on 1.4.2009)

Contamination-wise number of habitations

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