States asked to tap every water source

With the spectre of drought looming large in several parts of India, the Centre has asked states to look for every possible source of drinking water to cater to a possible emergency situation.

Agriculture and industries remain the biggest consumers of water in India. Then come the cities and towns. “We have to cater to 72% people (in the villages) but only 3% of total water in the country is available to them. So it is very important for us to ensure and direct state governments to make safe drinking water available in villages across India,” a senior official of the drinking water supply department said.

The department has also asked its officials to make sure that all hand pumps and stand posts are in working condition.  “It is very important in these conditions that hand pumps and stand posts are working and supplying safe drinking water. We have asked our staff to check each hand pump and stand post, as also to check if the water is safe for drinking,” said the officer. Although safe drinking water supply was a state subject, the officer said the states should have checked water sources before monsoon. But this has not happened so far.

Senior officers said that there are over 17 lakh habitations and 2.43 lakh panchayats across the country that gets safe drinking water from the ministry and state governments. The country has around 4 crore hand pumps and 12 lakh stand posts catering to 70 million people in rural areas. “We have also asked states to supply water in villages where there is no source of water,” the officer said.