Potable water in 26,000 habitations affected by arsenic,

Drinking water in more than 26,000 habitations across the country is contaminated by fluoride and arsenic elements, the Centre said today.

The potable water in as many as 13,013 habitations is contaminated with fluoride, whereas the same in 13,531 habitations is arsenic-affected, Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said in a reply in Rajya Sabha.

He said Rs 800 crore has been provided to states for providing piped water supply schemes from safe and perennial surface water sources in the affected habitations.

"The amount will be used to provide 8-10 litres per capita per day of safe drinking water in arsenic and fluoride affected habitations through community water purification plants," Tomar said.

The Ministry has also formulated a National Water Quality Sub-Mission for focused funding to arsenic and fluoride affected rural population on 50:50 sharing basis between the Center and the state, he added.

The Drinking Water and Sanitation Ministry monitors major chemical parameters namely arsenic, fluoride, iron, nitrate and heavy metals in groundwater-based drinking water supply.

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