Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Provide Potable Water To The Poor People And To Expand The Coverage Of Piped ... on 5 December, 2012
> Title: Need to provide potable water to the poor people and to expand the coverage of piped water supply in Maldaha Uttar parliamentary constituency, West Bengal.
KUMARI MAUSAM NOOR (MALDAHA UTTAR): Arsenic and fluoride content in groundwater has been found in quantities above the permissible level in many States. I would like to draw the attention of the Government to the State of West Bengal which is one of the most severely affected States as pointed out by many studies that have been conducted, some by various Ministries too.
For the rural people, groundwater is the primary source of drinking water which they extract through private domestic tube wells and this groundwater is contaminated. Though steps have ben taken in West Bengal to supply arsenic free potable water in all arsenic affected villages under ‘Bharat Nirman” programme by the year end 2011, yet the results have been discouraging with poor people still suffering from cancerous and other hazardous diseases. The status of piped water supply in rural districts of West Bengal including the Lok Sabha constituency of Malda Uttar is disheartening.
Therefore, I request the Government to take new initiatives to provide the poor safe drinking water and expand the coverage of piped water supply.