Parliament Question: Solar based Water Schemes

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 881 ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025 SOLAR BASED WATER SCHEMES †881. SMT. DHANORKAR PRATIBHA SURESH

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken note that 47 household beneficiaries are still facing problem in getting drinking water despite the installation of solar energy-based pumps in Bedya Basti of Katoda village in Arni Taluka of Yavatmal district of Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the measures taken / being taken by the Government for the successful implementation of such solar-based water schemes;

(c) whether the Government has a list of villages like Katoda (Taluka Arni, District Yavatmal) facing acute shortage of drinking water despite having approved households, leading to health risks, if so, the details thereof and the action taken / being taken by the Government in this regard;

and

(d) the initiatives taken / likely to be taken by the Government to provide a reserve system or immediate service for solar energy pumps in such a situation where construction of houses is at halt due to non-availability of drinking water? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA)

(a), (b) & (d) Drinking water is a State subject. The power to plan, design, approve and implement drinking water supply schemes/projects including solar schemes lies with State Government. Government of India supplements the efforts of the States by providing technical and financial assistance.

As per Operational Guidelines for the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission, following provisions have been made regarding use of renewable energy for water supply in villages by States/ UTs: i.) explore for installation of solar energy powered standalone water supply system in scattered/ isolated/ tribal/ hilly villages;

ii.) preferably use solar power pumping arrangements for single village water supply schemes; and iii.) explore for conjunctive use of solar power based pumping system in multi-village water supply schemes.

Page 1 of 2As informed by state government of Maharashtra, 47 households in Pardhibeda (Kathoda) village, situated in Taluka Arni, District Yavatmal, is currently served by an existing solar-powered dual pump water supply scheme, which was completed in April 2022. The scheme is equipped with a 1 HP solar pump (with a discharge capacity of approximately 1000 LPH) and a 1000-liter capacity LDPE storage tank. The Gram panchayat actively monitors the operation of this scheme and undertakes necessary maintenance and repair works as and when required, ensuring continued access to water for the residents.

(c) Significant progress has been made in the Yavatmal district since the launch of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), towards enhancing access to tap water to rural households. At the start of Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019, only 64,926 (~12.42%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by States, around 3.58 lakh additional rural households have been

provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 20.07.2025, out of 5.23 lakh rural households in the Yavatmal district, more than 4.23 lakh (81.06%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

The district-wise details of tap connections in Maharashtra is in public domain and may be accessed

at below link:

https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjmreport/JJMState.aspx **** Page 2 of 2