The Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) was introduced in 1972-73 by the Government of India to assist the States and Union Territories (UTs) to accelerate the pace of coverage of drinking water supply. The entire programme was given a Mission approach with the launch of the Technology Mission on Drinking Water and Related Water Management in 1986. Later in 1999 Department of Drinking Water Supply was formed to give more emphasis on Rural Water Supply programme.

       The National Agenda of Governance has set an objective to achieve universal coverage of all rural villages with drinking water supply by March 2004. To attain this objective, allocation under Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) has increased substantially from Rs.1,715 crore in 1999-2000 to Rs.2,900 crore in the year 2004-05. Out of the total number of 14.22 lakh rural habitations in the country, water supply has been extended to most of the habitations till 31st December 2003. Only 8,686 habitations still classified as Not Covered habitations are left to be provided with water supply. These 8,686 habitations are expected to be covered by 31st March 2004. During this period (1999-2004), 29,379 not covered and 187,636 partially covered habitations, that is more than 2.17-lakh habitations have been provided with drinking water supply.

Norms For Portable Drinking Water

   While implementing the Rural Water Supply Schemes, the following norms may be adopted for providing potable drinking water to the population:

40 litres per capita per day (lpcd) for humans to meet the following requirements:

       In addition, provision should be allowed at 30 lpcd for animals in hot and cold desert/ecosystems in 227 blocks of 36 DDP districts already identified in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, H.P., J&K, Karnataka and Rajasthan. With normal output of 12 litres per minute, one handpump or standpost is estimated for every 250 persons. In case of an independent habitation/hamlet/Wadi/Tola/Majra/Mohra etc, if their population is less than 250 persons and there is no potable water source within its location, one source may be provided . A rural habitation not having any safe water source with a permanently settled population of 20 households or 100 persons, whichever is more, may be taken as the unit for coverage with funds under the ARWSP. However, the State Government could cover any habitation regardless of its size/population/number of households with funds under the MNP. DDP areas and SC/ST habitations with less than 100 persons can, however, be covered under the ARWSP.

State Water Policy

Instruction and Notification