India, March 16 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
To enable every rural household in the country to have assured potable water, in adequate quantity of prescribed quality on regular and long-term basis through tap water connection; since August 2019, Government of India in partnership with states, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal.
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 03.03.2026, under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal more than 12.58 Crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as on 03.03.2026, out of around 19.36 Crore rural households in the country, around 15.82 Crore (81.71%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes and works for the remaining 3.54 Crore households are at various stages of implementation in respective States.
Further, the State/ UT-wise, District-wise and Village-wise status of tap water connection provided under the Mission in rural areas is in public domain and available on JJM dashboard at: https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjmreport/JJMIndia.aspx
As drinking water being a state subject, under JJM, responsibilities for planning, approval, implementation, operation and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes lie with State/ UT governments. Government of India supplements the efforts of the State/ UT government by providing technical and financial assistance. Numerous projects inter alia including projects aiming at strengthening water storage/ tanks, distribution systems, or purification facilities 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 level of State Government.
Further, under JJM, the Department undertakes assessment of the functionality of household tap water connections provided under the Mission, through an independent third-party agency, selected based on standard statistical sampling. During the Functionality Assessment, 2024, it was found that 98.1% of households in surveyed villages had tap connections; 87% of households with tap connections reported receiving water in the past week, indicating overall progress; 84% households receive water as per schedule; 80% households found receiving the minimum 55 LPCD water; 76% households found free from bacteriological contamination and 81% households of the supply source found free from chemical contamination and considering the parameters of quantity, quality and regularity, 76% of household tap connections were found to be functional.
Drinking water being a state subject, under JJM, responsibilities for planning, approval, implementation, operation and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes lie with State/ UT governments. States have reported challenges such as scarce dependable water sources in stressed areas, geogenic contamination, difficult terrain, scattered habitations, limited technical capacity, rising material costs and delays in statutory clearances, etc. Government of India supplements the efforts of the State/ UT government by providing technical and financial assistance.
To complete the ongoing works, budgetary allocation of Rs.67,670 Crores has been made for the FY 2026-27.
Further, the Government has introduced measures like Special Assistance for Capital Expenditure, appointed nodal officers for faster clearances, set up SPMUs, DPMUs and the Nal Jal Mitra programme to strengthen local technical skills. To further expedite the implementation and strengthening the existing monitoring mechanisms under Jal Jeevan Mission aiming at improving efficiency and effectiveness, steps like Village/ District Dashboards and linking Village Level Dashboards to eGramSwaraj portal, District Collectors' Peyjal Samvad, Institutionalization of Role of National WASH Experts (NWEs) through IMIS module, Role of TPIAs, strengthened collaboration with line Ministries, Decision Support System for strengthening Source Sustainability, Handbook on Community Managed Piped Water Systems, Unique ID for integrated Piped Water System, etc. have recently been taken up under JJM.
The information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI V. SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
