**Executive Summary**
This document provides answers to Unstarred Question No. 3188 regarding contaminated water in Faridkot, Punjab, which was addressed on December 18, 2023. It outlines the status of tap water connections, the extent of water contamination, and the measures being taken under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to address these issues. The response details allocations and actions implemented by the Union government and states.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Tap Water Coverage:**
* All (100%) 34.26 lakh rural households in Punjab are covered with potable tap water supply.
* All 2.23 lakh rural households in the Faridkot Lok Sabha constituency have potable tap water supply.
* **Water Contamination Status:**
* 433 habitations in Punjab reported water quality contamination.
* 119 habitations reported fluoride contamination.
* 257 habitations reported arsenic contamination.
* The number of water contaminated habitations decreased from 875 in 2022 to 433 at present.
* **Government Initiatives (JJM):**
* Continuous efforts are being made to ensure safe drinking water.
* Priority is given to quality-affected habitations when planning for tap water connections.
* States/UTs are advised to install community water purification plants (CWPPs), especially in arsenic and fluoride-affected habitations, to provide potable water as an interim measure.
* 10% weightage is given to the population residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants when allocating the funds to States / UTs.
* Over 2000 water quality testing laboratories have been set up.
* An online JJM-Water Quality Management Information System (WQMIS) portal has been developed.
* Five persons, preferably women, are identified and trained from every village for water sample testing.
* Up to 2% of the allocated amount under JJM can be used by the states for Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance.
* **Financial Information:**
* State-wise and year-wise allocation details are available online at: https://ejalshakti.gov.in/JJM/JJMReports/Financial/JJMRep_StatewiseAllocationReleaseExpenditure.aspx
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Rural Households in Punjab (especially Faridkot Lok Sabha constituency)**
* **Impact:** Access to potable tap water is ensured. Those in contaminated areas benefit from the interventions to provide safe drinking water.
* **Action Required:** No immediate action is required from households, but awareness of water quality and proper usage of purification systems are beneficial.
**Stakeholder: State Governments/UTs**
* **Impact:** The states are tasked with implementing JJM to provide potable water and monitor water quality.
* **Action Required:** Implement CWPPs, utilize allocated funds, train personnel for water quality testing, and update data on the WQMIS portal.
**Stakeholder: Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation**
* **Impact:** The department continues to implement the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
* **Action Required:** Continue to partner with states for providing potable tap water to every rural household of the country.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): A scheme implemented by the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation to provide potable tap water to every rural household in the country.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The Indian government ministry responsible for the Jal Jeevan Mission and answering questions related to contaminated water.
Punjab: The Indian state which is the subject of the question regarding contaminated water.
Faridkot: A Lok Sabha constituency in Punjab, specifically mentioned in the question about tap water connections.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3188
ANSWERED ON 18/12/2025
CONTAMINATED WATER IN FARIDKOT, PUNJAB
3188. SHRI SARABJEET SINGH KHALSA
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of rural houses in Punjab, particularly in Faridkot Lok Sabha Constituency
and the number of houses out of these with tap water connection/supply;
(b) the total number of habitations in Punjab and the number of habitations out of these affected
by arsenic, fluoride and other contamination;
(c) whether the water level in Punjab is continuously going down and also becoming poisonous
and if so, the details thereof along with the projects implemented/being implemented by the
Government to prevent this; and
(d) the budget allocated and spent on these projects during the last five years?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI V. SOMANNA)
(a) As reported by Government of Punjab in Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) IMIS, all rural
households i.e. 34.26 lakh (100%) rural households have been covered with potable tap water
supply. All 2.23 lakh rural households of Faridkot Lok Sabha constituency have been covered
with potable tap water supply.
(b) to (d) A total of 433 habitations in Punjab have reported water quality contamination with
119 habitations reporting fluoride contamination and 257 habitations reporting arsenic
contamination. The number of water contaminated habitations have decreased from 875
habitations in 2022 to 433 habitations at present.
The Union government is making continuous efforts to ensure safe drinking water to
citizens. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) being implemented by the Department of Drinking Water
& Sanitation in partnership with states for providing potable tap water to every rural household
of the country in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular & long-term basis.
Page 1 of 2Following measures have been taken under JJM to facilitate action on water quality aspects at
state level: -
i) While allocating the funds to States / UTs, 10% weightage is given to the population
residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants.
ii) To facilitate implementation of the JJM Schemes, more than 2000 water quality testing
laboratories have been set up in the country and an online JJM – Water Quality
Management Information System (WQMIS) portal has been developed. Besides this,
five persons, preferably women are identified and trained from every village for testing
the water samples through Field Test Kits (FTKs).
iii) Under JJM, while planning for potable water supply to household through tap water
connection, priority is given to quality-affected habitations. Further, with a view to
provide immediate solution, States/ UTs have been advised to install community water
purification plants (CWPPs) especially in Arsenic and Fluoride affected habitations to
provide potable water to every household as an interim measure.
Out of the allocated amount under JJM, up to 2% can be utilized by the states for Water Quality
Monitoring & Surveillance. Details of State-wise and year-wise allocation are available in
public domain and can be accessed from the following web link:
https://ejalshakti.gov.in/JJM/JJMReports/Financial/JJMRep_StatewiseAllocationReleaseExp
enditure.aspx
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