Srinagar- Under the Modi government’s ambitious Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Jammu & Kashmir has seen a substantial growth in providing tap water connections in rural households, as the UT achieved 58 percent household tap water connectivity this year.
These facts emerged from Jal Jeevan Mission’s ‘Jal Jeevan Samvad’ report for 2022 that was tabled by the central Government in September. The project is being completed in a phased manner under the ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’.
According to government data, out of 33 states and UTs, J&K ranks 18 in India with 10,63,237 households being provided tap water as on 29 October, 2022. However, with 58 percent J&K surpasses India’s national average of 53.32 percent in Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC).
Even though J&K has managed to provide tap water to 58 percent households there are still 7,71,953 households that are to be given a proper tap water connection in the UT. As per the data available, there are 18,35,190 households in total in J&K that were registered under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
The data further said that 1118 villages in J&K reported 100% tap connection and 73 villages are certified. Ganderbal and Srinagar are the only two districts in J&K that have been declared as a 100 percent ‘Har Ghar Jal’ district. In Gujarat and Srinagar, households in rural areas have access to safe drinking water through taps under the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ mission. There are 41,551 and 10,407 households in Ganderbal and Srinagar, respectively that have access to safe drinking water.
As per the data, Ramban, Kathua and Udhampur have the least number of households that have access to tap water connections. “There are 3260 villages in J&K where work on water-supply is still in progress and 2509 villages in J&K are those where water-supply work is yet to start,” the report observed.
6,322 villages in J&K have already formed a Village Water and Sanitation Committee and 6009 villages have made a Village action plan. “There are no villages in J&K with a gray water management plan,” the report added.
Announced on 15 August 2019, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is being implemented in partnership with States to make provision of tap water supply in adequate quantity of prescribed quality with adequate pressure on a regular and long-term basis to every rural home by 2024.
In 2022-23, under the central Government’s share for J&K’s Jal jeevan Mission, the opening balance was 605.71 crore, Allocation 3,039.11 crore, Assured fund 3,644.82 crore, Available Fund 605.71 crore and Expenditure 168.27 crore.
It is pertinent to mention here that Lieutenant Governor (LG), Manoj Sinha had said that the government is determined to provide tap water connection to every household in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Ensure sustainability of the source water supply system, along with maintaining inter-departmental coordination for the effective implementation of the project. Every single complaint from the citizens regarding water supply should be addressed on priority,” the Lt Governor told the officials.
The Jal Jeevan Mission in J&K aims to provide 100% Functional household Tap Connections (FHTC) at the rate of 55 LPCD as per BIS 10500 standard by 2024 with central assistance (90:10 for J&K). The guidelines of the mission also stipulates 5% community contribution towards in-village piped water supply infrastructure through cash, labor and material besides O&M of the schemes by PRIs.
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