**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Government's response to Unstarred Question No. 3098 regarding water-borne diseases due to contaminated canal water in Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts, answered on December 18, 2025. It outlines the water quality monitoring and treatment practices in place, as well as the government's efforts to provide potable water through the Jal Jeevan Mission.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Water Quality Analysis:**
* The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) monitors water quality monthly at three locations in Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts.
* Water quality is classified as 'B' and 'C' according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) standards. Class 'B' is suitable for outdoor bathing, while Class 'C' requires conventional treatment and disinfection for drinking.
* **Water Treatment and Supply:**
* The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Government of Rajasthan, regularly treats and disinfects raw water before supplying it for drinking purposes.
* Water quality is tested and monitored regularly.
* **Drinking Water Responsibility:**
* Planning, designing, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes is the responsibility of State/UT Governments, as drinking water is a State subject.
* The Government of India supplements these efforts with technical and financial assistance through the Jal Jeevan Mission.
* **Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) & Quality Standards:**
* JJM aims to provide potable tap water supply in adequate quantity and prescribed quality to rural households.
* Bureau of Indian Standards' BIS:10500 standards are adopted as a benchmark for water quality.
* **Handbooks for Guidance:**
* The Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation launched the "Handbook on Drinking Water Treatment Technologies" in March 2023.
* A "Concise Handbook for Monitoring Water Quality of Piped Drinking Water Supply to Rural Households" was launched in December 2024.
* These handbooks provide practical guidance for field practitioners.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Residents of Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh Districts**
* **Impact**: Their health is directly impacted by the quality of canal water.
* **Action Required**: No action required as this is an informative report.
**Stakeholder: Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB)**
* **Impact**: Responsible for water quality analysis and reporting.
* **Action Required**: Continue monthly water quality monitoring at specified locations.
**Stakeholder: Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Government of Rajasthan**
* **Impact**: Responsible for water treatment and supply.
* **Action Required**: Maintain regular treatment and disinfection practices, along with continuous testing and monitoring of water quality.
**Stakeholder: State/UT Governments**
* **Impact**: Primarily responsible for planning, designing, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes.
* **Action Required**: Continue to provide potable water to rural households and adhere to BIS:10500 water quality standards as benchmarked through the Jal Jeevan Mission.
**Stakeholder: Field Practitioners**
* **Impact**: Responsible for managing safe water supply systems.
* **Action Required**: To use the guidelines in the "Handbook on Drinking Water Treatment Technologies" and the "Concise Handbook for Monitoring Water Quality of Piped Drinking Water Supply to Rural Households".
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)–Har Ghar Jal: Aims to provide potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular & long-term basis to rural households in partnership with States/ Union Territories.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The ministry responsible for addressing water-related issues including drinking water supply.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): Sets the standards for water quality and use, classifying water into different categories like 'B' (suitable for outdoor bathing) and 'C' (suitable as a drinking water source after treatment).
Rajasthan: Location where the issue of contaminated canal water in Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts is centered.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3098
ANSWERED ON 18.12.2025
WATER-BORNE DISEASES DUE TO CONTAMINATED CANAL WATER
†3098. SHRI KULDEEP INDORA:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that the canal water in Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh
districts is contaminated by industrial and sewer waste leading to water-borne diseases and chronic
conditions like cancer affecting people and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government acknowledges that the dependence on open water sources is a primary cause
of water contamination and it is difficult to decontaminate such sources;
(c) if so, whether the Government is contemplating to formulate a dedicated national policy to supply
clean water from water sources directly to water treatment plants via dedicated pipelines on the lines of
petroleum products with separate pipelines for potable water and agricultural purpose to ensure that the
purity of water before distribution; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) collects and analyses water samples on a monthly
basis at three locations, namely Khakha Head on the Gang Canal in District Sri Ganganagar and
Masitawali Head and Jhandewala on the Indira Gandhi Nahar Pariyojana (IGNP) in District
Hanumangarh. The analysis reveals that the water quality of these canals falls under Class ‘B’ and Class
‘C’, as per the Designated Best Use criteria prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
As per CPCB norms, Class ‘B’ water is suitable for outdoor bathing, while Class ‘C’ water is suitable as
a drinking water source after conventional treatment and disinfection.
The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Government of Rajasthan, regularly treats
and disinfects the raw water before supplying it to the public for drinking purposes. The water quality is
tested and monitored regularly.
(b) to (d) Drinking Water being a State subject, the responsibility of Planning, Designing, Approval,
Implementation, Operation & Maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including those under the
1Jal Jeevan Mission, is vested with State/UT Governments. The Government of India supplements the
efforts of the States by providing technical and financial assistance.
The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)–Har Ghar Jal, has also launched, in August 2019, in partnership
with States/ Union Territories(UTs) to make provision of potable tap water supply in adequate quantity,
of prescribed quality and on regular & long-term basis to rural households. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission,
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.
The Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation has also launched the "Handbook on Drinking
Water Treatment Technologies" which was published in March 2023, followed by a "Concise Handbook
for Monitoring Water Quality of Piped Drinking Water Supply to Rural Households" in December 2024.
These handbooks are designed to provide practical guidance for field practitioners, ensuring effective
management of safe water supply systems.
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