Ministry of Jal Shakti Addresses Water Contaminant Concerns in Meghalaya
New Delhi, Dec 1: The Ministry of Jal Shakti has responded to queries from the Lok Sabha regarding reports of water contamination in Meghalaya. Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Veeranna Somanna, clarified that the central government has not received any official reports from the Meghalaya government regarding the contamination of drinking water with iron beyond permissible limits. Despite previous findings by state laboratories indicating high iron content in Shillong and 44 other locations, no habitation in Meghalaya has been officially identified as exceeding iron limits in its water sources.
The state government is actively addressing these water quality issues, having convened an emergency review meeting after tests found the presence of Coliform and E. coli with low pH values in local water samples.
Minister Somanna highlighted the working of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), an initiative aimed at providing every rural household with potable water through functional tap connections. Under this scheme, priority is given to areas affected by chemical contaminants, including iron, with 10% of annual fund allocations based on populations in affected habitations.
As an interim solution for such affected areas, states and Union Territories have been advised to install community water purification plants, providing 8–10 liters of potable water per capita per day to meet drinking and cooking needs. Additionally, JJM allows for up to 2% of funds to be used for water quality monitoring and testing infrastructure.
In response to queries from VPP MP Ricky Andrew J Syngkon, the Ministry noted ongoing collaboration with Meghalaya to ensure regular testing and monitoring of water sources. Between 2023 and 2025, thousands of water samples have been tested using both laboratory facilities and field testing kits to ensure water safety across the state.
Original Story https://theshillongtimes.com/2024/12/02/meghalaya-did-not-submit-any-report-of-contamination-of-drinking-water/
Category : MEGHALAYA
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Publish Date: 2024-12-02 04:13:00
