Rural Water Supply in India- Experiences of 60 years and the way forward

Transcription

1 Sanitation Socio-economic Development Education Water Supply PRI Rural Water Supply in India- Health Experiences of 60 years and the way forward Ms. Agatha Sangma Minister of State for Rural Development Ministry of Rural Development Government of India

2 1.2 Billion people - 15% world population 5% land mass and 1.5% water resources 71 % rural population (920 million) 26.1% population Below Poverty Line 48% population without access to improved sanitation; Number of villages million World biggest RWS program : 4 Billion USD a year REPLENISABLE WATER RESOURCES GROUND WATER = 433 BCM SURFACE WATER = 690 BCM TOTAL = 1,133 BCM PER CAPITA WATER AVAILABILITY = 1820 CM ( IN 2001) 2

3 Historical Perspective Federal setup- Drinking water/ water supplies are state subjects Community Managed First Generation Programme ARWSP PHED s to provide Drinking water Increasing reliance on Ground water Second generation Programme Recurring droughts and scarcity of water Technology Mission Era of hand pumps and over exploitation of ground water

4 The Gains & Pains The Gains Protected water supply for 750 million Food security and income Guinea worm eradicated 20M Power Pumps 0 The Pains Salinity ingress Fluoride & arsenic, bacterial contamination Fresh water pollution Declining traditional sources Conflicting use of scarce water Well Depths (m) 100 Black and Talbot (2005) Water a matter of life and health.

5 Third Generation Programme- Sector Reforms Pilot started and scaled up as Swajhaldhara in 2001 Based on the learning s from WB aided Swajal project in UP Communities were put in the forefront for the first time Demand Responsive Approach 10 % capital cost sharing and full O&M by the communities Local Government institutions empowered to plan, implement and manage facilities Mixed results : Basically no change in Water Department practice ( the top down approach remained). However, increased recognizance of importance of community participation

6 Lessons from the field New approaches tested under various WB, internationally aided projects Partnership with committed local NGO s and state governments Lessons Demand responsive and Participatory implementation approaches succeed 24/7 water supply with O& M completely managed by community is possible Ever the poor are ready to pay for better services How to scale up these learning's?

7 RWS MDG targets achieved 84% of the population has access to improved sources Successful in providing basic water facilities BUT.. There are serious challenges

8 Percentage of HHs by Source of Drinking Water (NSSO Data) Piped into Dwelling Public tap Tube well Other Improved Non-improved According to JMP report for MDG, an improved source of drinking water includes water piped into dwelling/yard/plot, water available from public tap or stand pipe or a tube well or borehole, or a protected well or spring 8

9 CHALLENGES SOURCE SUSTAINABILITY Per capita availability-5000 cm/ year in 1947 to 1700 cm/year (projected for 2015) 86% of drinking water supplies dependent on ground water 15%( 839 of 6000) blocks over exploited ground water WATER QUALITY 11% of all habitations (180000) villages are quality affected Arsenic, flouride, TDS, iron and nitrates are the chemical contaminants Bacteriological contamination during rainy season (mainly due to unsafe sanitary practices)

10 O&M Sustainability of systems 30% of all habitations (510000) slipped back from Fully covered to Partially covered Due to supply driven service delivery model with high investments and low or no maintenance Service Level (access, quantity, quality, reliability ) No O&M, renewal, replacement Rs. x Rs Years Challenge of O&M requires ongoing planning & investment Service Level (access, quantity, quality, reliability ) Ongoing O&M, renewal, replacement Rs Years

11 PARADIGM SHIFT IN POLICY Holistic and integrated water management of water From lcpd measures and providing RWS systems in villages to ensuring permanent drinking water security at the household level Focus not just on coverage but also on quality, Sustainability, O& M and support activities Vision- safe drinking water for all, at all times in rural India

12 Key strategies and principles Strengthening Decentralisation Drinking water security planning Water quality maintenance Conjunctive use of water Equity and Gender empowerment Convergence of various water related programmes Continuous capacity building Use of traditional knowledge and modern technology

13 STRENGTHENING DECENTRALISATION In village RWS schemes to be planned, approved, implemented, managed, operated and maintained by community Institutionalizing of Village water and sanitation Committee (VWSC) Incentive funds to encourage decentralization (Management Devolution Index) Transfer Funds, Functions and Functionaries to grass root institutions PHED s to play role of facilitator

14 APFAMGS AP Farmer Managed Groundwater Systems project Core principle- sustainable management is possible only if users understand its occurrence, cycle and limited availability Groundwater Management Committee s (GMC) and Hydrological Units (HU) are formed GMC s trained to monitor ground water Led to changes in cropping system, Crop Water Budgeting (CWB) and positive correlation between availability and use of water Inspired DDWS ongoing water security pilot in 10 states with WSP

15 Emphasis on GOAL- MOVING UP THE LADDER OF SERVICE DELIVERY Individual metered household connections Improved level of service 24 x 7 supply Water quality and sustainability Wells, Protected Springs Unprotected Source, shallow hand pumps, canals Tube wells, Hand pumps Stand posts Household Connection Individual & Multiple 15

16 THANK YOU