"Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal": Safe drinking water now reaching over 97% households in 30,207 wards affected by water contamination in Bihar
Patna : More than 97% of households in Bihar’s 30,207 wards affected by arsenic, fluoride, and iron contamination now have access to safe drinking water under the "Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal" scheme.
Hon’ble Minister of the Public Health Engineering Department, Shri Niraj Kumar Singh, stated that "Out of the total 30,207 water quality-affected wards in the state, 29,779 wards have now been covered under the 'Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal' scheme. As a result, more than 46.51 lakh households in these wards are receiving clean and safe drinking water. The remaining wards will also be covered under this scheme soon, benefiting a total of 47.68 lakh households in affected areas."
The Hon’ble Minister further informed that all 4,709 arsenic-affected wards in Bihar have been covered under the scheme. Similarly, out of 3,789 fluoride-affected wards, 3,784 have been brought under the scheme. Likewise, out of 21,709 iron-affected wards, 21,286 wards now have access to safe drinking water. Currently, 46.51 lakh functional household tap connections have been provided in these wards, out of a total of 47.68 lakh affected households.
The Hon’ble Minister highlighted that, to ensure effective water quality monitoring, the Public Health Engineering Department has implemented a Water Quality Monitoring Protocol. Under this protocol, water testing is conducted once every two months in arsenic- and fluoride-affected areas, once every four months in iron-affected areas, and at least twice a year in areas without water quality concerns. Consumers are being provided with clean drinking water that meets the BIS: 10500:2012 standards. The state has a well-established network of laboratories at different levels, including 75 sub-divisional, 38 district-level, and one state-level water testing laboratory, where regular monitoring of water quality is conducted based on 15 key parameters. Additionally, 15 district-level water testing laboratories in the state have received NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) certification.
Furthermore, the Public Health Engineering Department has constructed 14 multi-village water supply schemes across 11 districts. Under these schemes, arsenic and fluoride affected areas are being supplied with purified water through advanced water treatment plants, ensuring the availability of safe and high-quality drinking water in nearby villages.
