Parliamentary Panel Raises Alarm Over Water Contamination and Sanitation Gaps in Punjab
A recent report by a Parliamentary standing committee has highlighted critical issues with unsafe drinking water and inadequate sanitation in parts of Punjab, warning that slow spending and weak implementation are undermining key rural development schemes. The findings underscore urgent health and environmental concerns in the state.
Water Contamination Crisis in Key Districts
The committee, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, noted that 4,949 villages across eight states, including Punjab, are affected by chemical contamination of drinking water, as per data from the Jal Jeevan Mission portal. Additionally, 10,892 habitations in seven states face issues with contaminants like iron, salinity, nitrate, and heavy metals.
In Punjab, specific districts such as Fazilka, Ferozepur, Moga, and Patiala are impacted by heavy metals including mercury, uranium, selenium, and cadmium. The report emphasized that consumption of contaminated water poses severe immediate and long-term health hazards, calling for immediate remedial measures to ensure safe drinking water supply to all affected areas.
Chronic Underutilisation of Funds in Sanitation Schemes
The committee also flagged persistent underutilisation of funds under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase-II. For the financial year 2026-27, a budgetary provision of Rs 7,192 crore has been allocated, matching the previous year's estimate. However, in 2025-26, the allocation was reduced to Rs 6,000 crore at the revised estimate stage, with only about Rs 2,501 crore (42%) utilised as of January 8, 2026.
Describing this as a "chronic issue", the report noted that several states and Union Territories, including Punjab, have utilised less than 50% of their allocations over the last three years and in the current financial year (as of February 6, 2026). The committee recommended closer collaboration with states via the SNA-SPARSH platform to resolve technical issues hindering spending and grassroots implementation.
Lagging Waste Management and Sanitation Ratings
On waste management, the report revealed that while 93.16% of villages nationwide have liquid waste management facilities and 90% have solid waste management systems, Punjab lags significantly in solid waste management with only 36.1% coverage. The panel urged accelerated implementation in lagging states and time-bound geotagging of all facilities.
Furthermore, the Swachhata Green Leaf Rating (SGLR) system for hospitality facilities showed poor adoption in Punjab, with zero establishments rated among 2,646 nationwide, placing the state among the lowest performers. The committee called for coordinated efforts to improve sanitation standards in this sector.
Slow Progress in Aspirational Districts
In aspirational districts, only 40% of villages have achieved Har Ghar Jal status, and under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), 75% of villages have been declared Open Defecation Free Plus (Model). However, Punjab again trails, with only 12.07% of villages in aspirational districts reaching this status.
The committee stressed the need for faster implementation, stronger coordination, and close monitoring, particularly in districts with infrastructure constraints and socio-economic gaps. It recommended proactive steps on an urgent basis to address these challenges and ensure effective delivery of rural schemes.
