Ghulam Nabi Azad said that there was no evidence linking rising levels of water pollution to more than 11 lakh cancer cases in the country every year.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha Health and Family Welfare minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that there was no evidence linking rising levels of water pollution to more than 11 lakh cancer cases in the country every year. The available evidence was not enough to conclude that steep rise in water pollution was the main cause of cancer, he said in a written answer.
He said a budgetary provision of Rs.11,000 crore was made for the National Rural Drinking Water Programme in 2013-14.
Up to 67 percent of the NRDWP (National Rural Drinking Water Programme) funds allocated to states could be utilised for tackling water quality problems in rural areas, he added.
Supply of water in rural areas is a state subject.
Source-IANS