NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, INDIA the urgently required short-term measures like making the RWS in Pratappur functional with immediate effect by ensuring minimum power supply to the plant, distribution of safe drinking water to the villagers, construction of water harvesting tanks. vii. Upon consideration of the report of Spl. Rapporteur, the Commission directed the Chief Secretary, Government of Jharkhand to draw the attention of the concerned authorities to the serious problemand to submit a status report on the urgent implementation of the Short-Term measures. The Commission also directed that Municipality should take immediate steps for supply of two tankers of drinking water daily in the three villages namely, Partapur, Darmi and Parsi in Garhwa District without any further loss of time. The Commission also asked its Secretary General to send a copy of the report of Smt. S.Jalaja, the Special Rapporteur to the Governor of the State of Jharkhand for such consideration as he may deem fit. viii. In response an Action Taken Report was received from the Government of Jharkhand, which was forwarded to Smt. S.Jalaja, Special Rapporteur to ascertain whether the contents of the report were factually correct and to seek a report on further steps taken by the State Government in the matter. ix. The Drinking Water & Sanitation Department, Govt. of Jharkhand reported the progress made for providing safe drinking water to the fluoride affected areas of all Districts of Jharkhand, which revealed that the State has established 23 district laboratories, 5 SubDivisional laboratories and one state level laboratory for testing the quality of water. The state has also retained NABL status since 2016 and in a recent assessment carried out in the first week of April, 2018, the State Laboratory was found to be running as per standard of NABL for which certificate will be issued shortly. It was also reported that steps are taken to re-verify all the previous sources and habitations found positive for fluoride contamination. Habitations reported as affected with fluoride were 1199 which had been re-tested at state NABL laboratory and this resulted in only 502 habitations presently having fluoride contamination above the permissible level. x. Further, in order to address issues on priority basis, the state government has worked out short term, midterm and long term measures. It was also stated in the report that departmental coordination is being closely monitored at Chief Secretary level through regular video conferencing with state officials/Deputy Commissioners/Civil Surgeons/ Executive Engineers-DWSD/ICDS/Food and Civil Supply. DMFT funds are being utilized for developing pipe based water supply schemes in the state. During the financial year 201718, 66 rural pipe water supply schemes worth Rs.2343.48 crores have been sanctioned and more such similar schemes will be sanctioned in near future also. In view of the action taken by the State Government the Commission closed the matter with the observations that the state will continue to work for providing safe drinking water to the people of the fluoride affected areas. ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19 65