Chandigarh: Unsafe drinking water and gaps in sanitation continue to cast a shadow over parts of Punjab, with a Parliamentary panel flagging contamination in key districts and warning that slow spending and weak implementation are undermining flagship rural schemes.In a report tabled in Parliament, the standing committee on water resources under the ministry of jal shakti stated that 4,949 villages across eight states, including Punjab, were affected by chemical contamination of drinking water, as reported on the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM-IMIS) portal. It also noted that 10,892 habitations across seven states were impacted by contaminants such as iron, salinity, nitrate, and heavy metals.In Punjab, the committee pointed out that Fazilka, Ferozepur, Moga, and Patiala districts were affected by heavy metals, including mercury, uranium, selenium, and cadmium. It stressed that health hazards of water contamination called for urgent consideration as consumption of unsafe and contaminated water caused severe immediate and long-term health issues. The committee recommended the department take necessary remedial measures to ensure the supply of safe drinking water to all affected habitations.The report also highlighted persistent underutilisation of funds under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase-II. While a budgetary provision of Rs 7,192 crore has been allocated for 2026-27, the same as the previous year’s budget estimate, the committee noted that in 2025-26, the allocation was reduced to Rs 6,000 crore at the revised estimate stage. Of this, only about Rs 2,501 crore, or 42%, was utilised as of Jan 8, 2026.Describing underutilisation as a “chronic issue”, the committee said several states and Union Territories, including Punjab, had utilised less than 50% of their allocation over the last three years and in the current financial year (as on Feb 6, 2026). The committee recommended that the department work closely with states under the SNA-SPARSH platform to resolve technical issues affecting spending and implementation at the grassroots level.On waste management, the committee noted that while 93.16% of villages (5,46,825) had been covered with liquid waste management facilities and 90% (5,29,351 villages) had solid waste management systems, Punjab lagged behind in solid waste management with only 36.1% coverage. The committee urged the department to accelerate implementation in lagging states and ensure time-bound geotagging of all facilities.The panel also reviewed the Swachhata Green Leaf Rating (SGLR) system for hospitality facilities and found that while 2,646 establishments across the country had been rated, Punjab recorded zero participation, placing it among the lowest-performing states. It called for coordinated efforts to improve adoption and sanitation standards in the sector.In aspirational districts, the committee noted that only 40% of villages (41,495 out of 1,04,269) had achieved Har Ghar Jal status. Under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), 75% of villages (78,170 out of 1,04,528) have been declared Open Defecation Free Plus (Model). However, Punjab again figures among lagging states, with only 12.07% of villages in aspirational districts achieving this status.Taking cognisance of these findings, the committee stressed the need for faster implementation, stronger coordination, and close monitoring, particularly in districts facing infrastructure constraints and gaps in socio-economic indicators. The committee recommended that the department take proactive steps on an urgent basis to address these challenges. MSID:: 129717370 413 |
