Parliament Question: Status of drinking water quality in Jharkhand and corrective measures

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3455 ANSWERED ON 23/03/2026 STATUS OF DRINKING WATER QUALITY IN JHARKHAND AND CORRECTIVE MEASURES 3455#. SHRI PRADIP KUMAR VARMA: Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) the number of water sources tested for quality in the State of Jharkhand during the last three years; (b) the district-wise number of water sources affected by Fluoride, Iron and other contaminants; (c) the number of water quality testing laboratories operational in the State to ensure safe drinking water; and (d) the number of remediation projects approved for areas affected by contaminated water? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA) (a) to (d) Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is under implementation since August, 2019, in partnership with States/ UTs including Jharkhand to make provision of potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular & long-term basis to rural households. Under JJM, as per existing guidelines, Bureau of Indian Standards’ BIS:10500 standards are adopted as benchmark for quality of water being supplied through the piped water supply schemes. Drinking Water being a State subject, the responsibility of Planning, Designing, Approval, Implementation, Operation & Maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including those under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), is vested with State/UT Governments. The Government of India supplements the efforts of the States/ UTs by providing financial, policy guidance and technical assistance. In consultation with various stakeholders 'Concise Handbook for Monitoring Water Quality of Piped Drinking Water Supply to Rural Households’ has been released in December 2024 for guidance to States/ UTs. This handbook recommended for a comprehensive testing of drinking water samples at various testing points such as source, treatment plant, storage and distribution points, and remedial action wherever necessary, to ensure that the water supplied to households is of prescribed quality. The handbook recommended that surface water sources are to be tested for chemical parameters four times a year at equal intervals, while groundwater sources are to be tested at least twice a year (at six-month intervals). Drinking Water and Sanitation Department (DW&SD), Jharkhand has informed that total number of sources tested through labs during last three years are 6,19,119. Page 1 of 2Under JJM, while planning water supply schemes to provide tap water supply to households, priority is given to habitations affected by chemical contaminants. States/ UTs have been advised to plan and implement piped water supply schemes based on alternative safe water sources for the villages with water quality issues. DW&SD, Jharkhand has informed that remedial measure in affected habitations has been taken by installation of Electrolytic De-fluoridation Plant (EDF) plants and red cross mark over tube well also to aware people not to use in drinking purpose as short term measure and numerous Single village schemes / Multi village schemes has been planned under JJM and other fund as long term measure. Further, DW&SD, Jharkhand has informed that 31 water quality testing laboratories (State-1, distt.-24 and sub-division level -6) are operational in the State to ensure safe drinking water. State has further informed that there are 88 nos. of Single village/ Multi village schemes approved for the affected areas. ***** Page 2 of 2