GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES IN RURAL WATER SUPPLY Programmes, Reforms and Bharat Nirman

Presented by
(Group 7) Nitin Srivastava Rohit Dixit Rahul Jaiswal Arvind Kumar Rajesh Dabral 08BTWREN043 08BTWREN045 08BTWREN046 08BTWREN047 08BTWREN048

B.Tech (WRE) 8th sem.

INTRODUCTION
Water is important for human life. Safe drinking water influences the quality of health and productivity Water is called as Indrajal in mythology the natures gift through rainfall, it not only satisfies the thirst of human beings but also gives food and sustains life of human beings, plants and animals. Rural India has more than 700 million people residing in about 1.42 million habitations spread over 15 diverse ecological regions. An estimated total of Rs. 1,105 billion is spent on providing safe drinking water since the First Five Year Plan was launched in 1951.

India as a country with abundance of natural resources is blessed with large resources in terms of water. However, the availability of fresh water varies from place to place based on its geophysical set-up and natural resources in the country. At present, States generally plan, design and execute water supply schemes (and often continue to operate) through their State Public Health Engineering Departments.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

Drinking water supply and sanitation are the subject of state governments. These are included in the eleventh schedule of the constitution of India among the subject that are entrusted to panchayats by the states. The five year plan, both the government of India and the state government have substantially invested about rupees 55,000/- crore in rural water supply sector providing potable water to the rural people. More than 37 lakhs hand pumps and 1,73,000/piped water supply outlets have been installed in providing access to potable drinking water.

The status of coverage of rural habitations with drinking water facilities is presented in table. It indicates that more than 95 per cent of habitations have been fully covered with one or two water system. The partially covered habitations are 3.13 per cent followed by not covered habitations, which are negligible. However, a large number of habitations, which are fully covered earlier, have slipped back as not covered/partially covered due to following factor sources are becoming dry because of over exploitation of ground water table is depleting day by day; water sources are affected with quality problems; increasing population in lower per capita availability of drinking water.

COVERAGE OF RURAL HABITATIONS

Type of coverage Number of Habitations Total Percentage

Fully covered (FC)

Partially Covered (PC) Not Covered (NT) Uninhabited / Urbanized Total
Source: ministry of rural development

13,73,827
44.521 3,935 381 14,22,664

96.56
3.13 0.28 0.03 100

A large number of habitations (2,16,794 habitations) are affected with water quality problems. A programme for water quality monitoring and surveillance developed in consultation with ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India is contemplated through National Levels and State Level Referral Institutions. Every habitation to have a safe source of drinking water: 55,067 uncovered habitations to be covered by 2009. In addition, all habitations which have slipped back from full coverage to partial coverage due to failure of source and habitations which have water quality problems to be addressed.

WATER QUALITY PROBLEM

Type of water quality Problem Number of Affected Habitation Excess Flouride Excess Arsenic Excess Salinity Excess Iron 36,988 9,136 32,597 1,38,670

Excess Nitrate Other Problem

Total
Source: Ministry of Rural Development

4,003 1,400
2,16,794

ACCELERATED RURAL WATER SUPPLY

PROGRAMME (ARWSP)
Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) is being implemented to resolve the drinking water problem in rural habitations. The Central Government supplements the efforts of the states by providing financial and technical support.

The objectives of ARWSP are as follows

To ensure coverage of all rural habitation with access to safe drinking water. To ensure sustainability of drinking water systems and sources. To tackle drinking water quality affected habitations. To institutionalize the reforms initiatives in the rural drinking water supply sector

Norms for coverage

40 litres per capitra per day (LPCD) 30 LPCD of additional water for cattle in areas under the Desert Development Programme (DDP) One hand pump or stand post for every 250 persons Availability of water sources within 1.6 km in plains and 100 meters elevation in hilly areas.

Funding pattern

The scheme is funded on a 50% basis by the Government of India (GoI) and expenditure of Rs.4050 crores is expected for the current year. The actual requirement will be worked out based on the names of habitations supplied by the states and funded.

BHARAT NIRMAN AND RURAL WATER SUPPLY

Bharat Nirman has been covered as plan to build rural infrastructure within a four year period (2008-2009). Drinking water supply is one of the components of Bharat Nirman. The Department of Drinking Water Supply, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India has initiated steps to ensure that the target of the Rural Drinking Water component of Bharat Nirman are met within the specified time frame The drinking water component of Bharat Nirman is implemented through Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP). Every habitation to have a safe source of drinking water: 55,067 uncovered habitations to be covered by 2009

DRAFT NATIONAL WATER POLICY (2012)

The present scenario of water resources and their management in India has given rise to several concerns, important amongst them are; Large parts of India have already become water stressed. Rapid growth in demand for water due to population growth, urbanization and changing lifestyle pose serious challenges to water security. There is wide temporal and spatial variation in availability of water. Climate change may also increase the sea levels. Access to safe drinking water still continues to be a problem in some areas. The existing water resources infrastructure is not being maintained properly resulting in under-utilization of available resources.

USES OF WATER

The Centre, the States and the local bodies (governance institutions) must ensure access to a minimum quantity of potable water for essential health and hygiene to all its citizens Ecological needs of the river should be determined recognizing that the natural river flows are characterized by low or no flows. In the water rich eastern and north eastern regions of India, the water use infrastructure is weak and needs to be strengthened in the interest of food security.

WATER PRICING
Over and above the pre-emptive uses for sustaining life and eco-system, water needs to be treated as an economic good and therefore, may be priced to promote efficient use and maximizing value from water There should be a mechanism in every State to establish a water tariff system and fix the criteria for water charges Heavy under-pricing of electricity leads to wasteful use of both electricity and water.

WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION

There is a need to remove the large disparity between stipulations for water supply in urban areas and in rural areas. Rural areas with endemic ground water quality problems (such as fluoride or arsenic) may be supplied piped surface water. Urban domestic water supplies should preferably be from surface water. Urban water supply and sewage treatment schemes should be integrated and executed simultaneously. Water supply bills should include sewerage charges.

Conclusion
This is the high time to protect the ground water for future generation. The ground water recharge through rain water harvesting programme is on top priority of the ministry of rural development and the results are positive. The farmers should be educated and trained in low water consumption modern methods like drip irrigation. Traditional water treatment methods should be encouraged by the central and state government under Bharat Nirman. Usage of plastic vessels made with recycled plastic is common phenomenon in rural areas

References:
Ministry of rural development Department of drinking water supply Ministry of water resources Rama Swamy Iyea (2003) ground water legislation

save water it will save you later