Context: ‘AMRIT Technology’ (Arsenic and Metal Removal by Indian Technology) has been developed by IIT- Madras for the removal of Arsenic and Metal ions from water.

Jal Jeevan Mission: Reaching 71.5% Rural Households with Tap Water

• In a written reply to Parliament, the Minister of State for Jal Shakti outlined the following achievements of the Jal Jeevan Mission in ensuring safe & potable tap water supply in rural households.
• Accessibility: 13.76 Crore / 19.24 Crore rural households ie, (71.5%) provided with tap water supply.
• Quality: all 378 Arsenic affected habitations, that still don’t have tap water connections are  provided with safe drinking water through Community Water Purification Plants (CWPPs)
  • as reported in the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of the Department.

About Jal Jeevan Mission

• Nodal Ministry: Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jalshakti.
• Mission: A Functional Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household by 2024 with water in adequate quantity of prescribed quality made available regularly.
• Implementation: In partnership with states with the government of India supporting the States by providing technical and financial assistance.
  • Drinking Water is a state subject
  • The responsibility of planning, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including those under the Jal Jeevan Mission, lies with the State/UT Governments.

What are the Harmful Effects of Arsenic in Water?

• Long-term exposure to arsenic from drinking water and food can cause cancer and skin lesions.
• Fresh evidence indicates a possible association between intake of contaminated water to onset of diabetes, hypertension, and reproductive disorders. 
• In utero and early childhood exposure has been linked to negative impacts on cognitive development and increased deaths in young adults.

News source: PIB