Current Affairs

COST ESCALATION UNDER THE JAL JEEVAN MISSION

COST ESCALATION UNDER THE JAL JEEVAN MISSION

The Government of India had launched Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), a centrally sponsored scheme, in August 2019, aiming to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to every rural household of the country. Under JJM, Government also approved support for the States and UTs with a central outlay of ₹2,08,652 crore. The approved central outlay has almost been utilized.

At the start the Mission, only 3.23 Crore (16.7%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by States/ UTs as on 30.07.2025, under JJM more than 12.44 Crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as on 30.07.2025, out of 19.36 Crore rural households in the country, more than 15.67 Crore (80.97%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

To achieve the goal of the Mission with focus on quality of infrastructure and Operation & Maintenance of rural piped water supply schemes for long term sustainability and citizen centric water service delivery, Hon’ble Finance Minister during her budget speech 2025-26 has announced extension of Jal Jeevan Mission until 2028 with enhanced total outlay.

Considering the requests from various States seeking central support for meeting additional cost of raw materials increased due to CoVID 19 pandemic and Russia Ukraine crisis, requisite amendments were made in operational guidelines of the Mission with effect from 21.06.2022 for sustaining the pace of implementation during the Mission Period.

Drinking Water being a State subject, it is States, who plan, design, approve and implement drinking water supply schemes. Government of India supplements the efforts of the States by providing technical and financial assistance. Numerous projects are implemented concurrently at various levels across the States for achieving the envisaged objectives. As such, project-wise details of individual projects/ schemes for rural water supply projects are maintained at the State government level.

The grievances/ complaints, etc. inter alia including corruption, sub-standard work and irregularities under JJM are handled and disposed of at the State/ UT level. Such complaints/ representations as and when received in this department are forwarded to the state government for taking necessary corrective measures. Further, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation undertakes several measures such as functionality assessment, ground truthing by National WASH Experts, call-based feedback from complainant, field visits by National Teams, status review in meetings, etc. to ensure that the complaints related to quality of works are addressed by the State/UT.

This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES SHRI V. SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.     

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