**Executive Summary:**
This document is the response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 881 regarding solar-based water schemes, answered on July 24, 2025. It addresses concerns about drinking water access in Bedya Basti, Katoda village, Yavatmal district, Maharashtra, despite the installation of solar-powered pumps. The response outlines the government's approach to supporting states in providing drinking water and the progress made in Yavatmal district under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Role of Government of India & State Government:**
* Drinking water is a State subject; planning, design, approval, and implementation of water supply schemes lie with State Governments.
* The Government of India supplements State efforts through technical and financial assistance.
* **Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Renewable Energy:**
* Operational Guidelines for JJM encourage the use of renewable energy for water supply:
* Installation of solar energy-powered standalone systems in scattered, isolated, tribal, and hilly villages should be explored.
* Preferential use of solar power pumping arrangements for single-village water supply schemes.
* Exploration of conjunctive use of solar power-based pumping systems in multi-village water supply schemes.
* **Situation in Pardhibeda Kathoda Village, Yavatmal District:**
* The village is served by an existing solar-powered dual pump water supply scheme completed in April 2022.
* The scheme includes a 1 HP solar pump with a 1000 LPH discharge capacity and a 1000-liter LDPE storage tank.
* The Gram Panchayat actively monitors and maintains the scheme.
* **Progress under Jal Jeevan Mission in Yavatmal District:**
* Significant progress has been made in enhancing access to tap water to rural households since the launch of JJM in August 2019.
* As of July 20, 2025, over 4.23 lakh (81.06%) out of 5.23 lakh rural households in the Yavatmal district have tap water supply.
* District-wise details of tap connections in Maharashtra are publicly accessible via a provided link.
**Impact Analysis:**
**State Governments/Union Territories:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for planning, designing, approving, and implementing drinking water supply schemes, including solar schemes.
* *Action Required:* Explore and implement renewable energy solutions, especially solar power, in water supply schemes, as per JJM guidelines.
**Gram Panchayats (Specifically in areas like Pardhibeda Kathoda):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for monitoring the operation and undertaking necessary maintenance and repair works of existing water supply schemes.
* *Action Required:* Ensure continued access to water for residents through active monitoring, maintenance, and repair of the solar-powered water supply scheme.
**Rural Households in Yavatmal District:**
* *Impact:* Improved access to tap water connections through the Jal Jeevan Mission.
* *Action Required:* Utilize and maintain the tap water connections provided under the JJM to ensure a continuous supply of potable water.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Shakti: The Indian government ministry responsible for water resources.
SMT. DHANORKAR PRATIBHA SURESH: Questioner in LOK SABHA.
Bedya Basti: A locality in Katoda village.
Katoda village: A village in Arni Taluka, Yavatmal district.
Arni Taluka: A taluka (sub-district) in Yavatmal district, Maharashtra.
Yavatmal district, Maharashtra: A district in the state of Maharashtra, India, facing drinking water shortage issues.
SHRI V. SOMANNA: Minister of State for Jal Shakti.
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): A Government of India initiative to provide tap water connections to rural households.
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
****
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