**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Ministry of Jal Shakti's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3027 regarding water quality monitoring and solar water projects in the Jalpaiguri division (West Bengal) as of August 7, 2025.
The Ministry confirms that district-wise data on water quality monitoring is maintained for the Jalpaiguri division, which includes the districts of Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Kalimpong. According to reports from the State of West Bengal on JJMIMIS (Jal Jeevan Mission - Integrated Management Information System), there are currently no rural habitations in the Jalpaiguri division reported to be affected by fluoride or arsenic contamination.
Regarding solar-powered drinking water projects in remote tea garden areas of Jalpaiguri, the response clarifies that drinking water supply schemes, including solar-powered projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission, fall under the purview of State/UT Governments. States/UTs are responsible for the planning, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of these schemes. The decision to undertake specific projects, including solar-powered ones, is based on techno-economic feasibility and local requirements as determined by the respective State/UT Governments. The Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri V. Somanna, provided this information.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Shakti: The Indian Ministry of Jal Shakti, the concerned ministry for water related issues.
Jalpaiguri division: An administrative division in West Bengal, India, comprising multiple districts.
West Bengal: A state in eastern India.
Jal Jeevan Mission: A government initiative focused on providing safe and adequate drinking water to rural households.
Alipurduar district: A district within the Jalpaiguri division of West Bengal.
Cooch Behar district: A district within the Jalpaiguri division of West Bengal.
Darjeeling district: A district within the Jalpaiguri division of West Bengal.
Kalimpong district: A district within the Jalpaiguri division of West Bengal.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3027
ANSWERED ON 07/08/2025
WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND SOLAR WATER PROJECTS IN
JALPAIGURI
3027. DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is maintaining district-wise data relating to monitoring of water
quality in Jalpaiguri division and if so, the details thereof indicating the number of habitations with
fluoride/arsenic contamination; and
(b) whether the Government has proposed any solar-powered drinking water projects in remote
tea garden areas of Jalpaiguri and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI V. SOMANNA)
(a) Yes.
Jalpaiguri division of West Bengal comprises of Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri,
and Kalimpong districts. As reported by the State of West Bengal on JJM-IMIS, there are no
Fluoride/Arsenic contamination affected rural habitations in Jalpaiguri division where the rural
population is at the risk of consuming fluoride/arsenic affected drinking water.
(b) Drinking water being a State subject, the responsibility of Planning, Approval,
Implementation, Operation & Maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including solar
powered drinking water projects for all schemes taken up under the Jal Jeevan Mission, is vested
with State/UT Governments. Accordingly, the States/ UTs may take up appropriate drinking water
supply projects including solar-powered projects depending upon techno-economic feasibility and
local requirements.
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