Lok Sabha Question No. 176 (STARRED), answered on 2025-07-31
Subject: Challenges in Rural Tap Water Network under JJM
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar, Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 176 ANSWERED ON 31/07/2025

## CHALLENGES IN RURAL TAP WATER NETWORK UNDER JJM

## *176.   SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH: SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) the data on the number of rural households with functional tap connections that currently lack regular or adequate water supply despite infrastructure available/being laid for the job, district-wise;

- (b) the steps being taken to ensure the sustainability of water sources in water-stressed, drought- prone and desert areas where tap connections have been installed under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) but are non-functional due to lack of water availability;

- (c) the manner in which the Government is addressing groundwater contamination, especially due to arsenic and fluoride in regions where piped water supply is reliant on unsafe sources;

- (d) whether the Government has conducted any independent audit or assessment to identify the extent of water leakage, infrastructure decay or inefficiencies in the rural tap water network installed under JJM and if so, the details thereof; and

- (e) the  capacity-building  initiatives  put  in  place  to  train  Panchayat-level  workers  and  local communities in maintaining in-village water supply systems and ensuring long-term sustainability of the infrastructure?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI (SHRI C R PATIL)

(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

*****

## Statement referred to in reply of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 176 answered on 31.07.2025

(a) Since August 2019, Government of India in partnership with states is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal to make provision of potable water to every rural household of the country through functional tap water connection i.e. to provide assured potable water, in adequate quantity of prescribed quality on regular and long-term basis.

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 28.07.2025, under JJM more than 12.44 crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as on 28.07.2025, out of 19.36 crore rural households in the country, more than 15.67 crore (80.96%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes and works for the remaining 3.69 crore households are at various stages of completion as per saturation plan of the respective State/ UT. State/ UT-wise details are annexed .

(b) Under JJM, the water sources inter alia including groundwater (open well, borewell, tube well, handpumps, etc.), ancient & traditional surface water (river, reservoir, lake, pond, springs, etc.) and rainwater stored in small tanks are being used as sources for drinking water supply schemes.

States  have  accordingly  been  advised  for  source  recharging,  viz.  dedicated  bore  well  recharge structures,  rainwater  recharge,  rejuvenation  of  existing  water  bodies,  reuse  of  greywater,  etc.,  in convergence with other schemes such as MGNREGS, Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), 15th Finance Commission tied grants to Rural Local Bodies/ Panchayati Raj Institutes, State schemes, CSR funds, etc. In addition, Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) campaign is being implemented aiming to encourage water conservation at grass-root levels with people's participation. Moreover, water being a state subject, works related to water resources development and management are planned, funded, executed and maintained by the state governments as per their own resources and priorities.

Further, for villages in water-scarce areas, in order to save the precious fresh water, states are also being encouraged to plan new water supply scheme with dual piped water supply system, i.e. supply of fresh water in one and treated grey/ waste water in another pipe for non-potable/ gardening/ toilet flushing use. Moreover, the households in these areas are being encouraged to use the faucet aerators that save a significant amount of water, in multiple taps they may be using inside their house.

(c) Under JJM, while allocating the funds to States/ UTs, 10% weightage is given to the population residing  in  habitations  affected  by  chemical  contaminants  (includes  Arsenic  affected  habitations). States/ UTs have been advised to plan and implement piped water supply schemes based on alternative safe water sources for the villages with water quality issues on priority.

It  was envisaged that planning, implementation and commissioning of piped water supply scheme based  on  a  safe  water  source  in  such  habitations  may  take  time,  therefore,  purely  as  an  interim measure, States/  UTs  have  been  advised  to  install  community  water  purification  plants  (CWPPs) especially in Arsenic and Fluoride affected habitations to provide potable water to every household to meet their drinking and cooking requirements. As on date, States have reported provisions of piped water supply / community water purification plant (CWPP) in all the Arsenic and Fluoride affected rural habitations.

(d)  Department  of  Drinking  Water  &  Sanitation  undertakes  assessment  of  the  functionality  of household tap water  connections  provided  under  the  Mission,  through  an  independent  third-party agency, based on standard statistical sampling. During the Functionality Assessment 2022, it was found that 86% of households (HHs) had working tap connections. Out of these, 85% were getting water in adequate quantity, 80% were getting water regularly as per the schedule of water supply for their piped water supply scheme, and 87% of households were receiving water as per the prescribed water quality standards. A copy of last Functionality Assessment 2022 is in public domain and can be accessed at https://jaljeevanmission.gov.in/functionality-reports.

(e) Since its launch, Jal Jeevan Mission is being implemented as a decentralized, demand-driven and community-managed programme, wherein the Gram Panchayat and/ or its sub-committee/ user group i.e.  Village  Water  &  Sanitation  Committee  (VWSC)/  Pani  Samiti  are  being  empowered  to  plan, implement,  manage,  operate  and  maintain  in-village  water  supply  system  to  provide  regular  and assured tap water supply in rural households.

Under JJM, NGOs/ Community Based Organizations (CBOs)/ Self Help Groups (SHGs)/ Voluntary Organizations (VOs), etc. are also being empanelled as Implementation Support Agencies (ISAs) to handhold  and  train  VWSCs/  Pani  Samitis  in  planning,  mobilizing  and  engaging  communities, disseminating information and encouraging women participation for ensuring long-term operation & maintenance of the water supply infrastructure.

To bring in 'sense of ownership and pride' among rural communities, provision has been made for community contribution to the extent of 5% of the in-village infrastructure  cost in case of North Eastern States and difficult/ hilly areas, forested, water-stressed and villages with more than 50% SCs/ STs population, and 10% in remaining villages.

Moreover, for enabling the local village community to play their role in planning, implementation and to shoulder the responsibility of operation and maintenance, Nal Jal Mitra Program (NJMP) has been launched in collaboration with Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to equip them with a comprehensive set of skills & develop 'Nal Jal Mitras', so that they can function as scheme operators and are able to carry out minor repairs and maintenance, including preventive maintenance, of the piped water supply scheme(s) in their village as skilled masons, plumbers, fitters, electricians, motor mechanics, pump operators, etc.

While preparing VAPs, dovetailing of resources available at village level under various programs like 15th  Finance  Commission  tied  grant  for  water  &  sanitation  to  RLBs/  PRIs,  JJM,  SBM(G), MGNREGS,  MP/  MLA  -  Local  Area  Development  Funds,  District  Mineral  Development  Fund (DMDF), CSR Fund, community contributions, etc. is of paramount importance. In long-term, it is expected that village community will dovetail and utilize all available resources for long-term water security of the village.

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## Annex

## Annex mentioned in Statement referred to in reply of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 176 answered on 31.07.2025

JJM: State/ UT-wise status of tap water connections in rural households as on 28.07.2025

(No. in lakh)

| S. No.   | State/ UT     | Total rural HHs   | Rural HHs with tap water connection as on Aug, 2019   | Rural HHs with tap water connection as on Aug, 2019   | Rural HHs with tap water connection as on 28.07.2025   | Rural HHs with tap water connection as on 28.07.2025   | Remaining Rural HHs as on 28.07.2025   |
|----------|---------------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| S. No.   | State/ UT     | Total rural HHs   | No.                                                   | %                                                     | No.                                                    | %                                                      | Remaining Rural HHs as on 28.07.2025   |
| 1        | A&N Islands   | 0.62              | 0.29                                                  | 46.02                                                 | 0.62                                                   | 100.00                                                 | -                                      |
| 2        | Arunachal Pr. | 2.29              | 0.23                                                  | 9.97                                                  | 2.29                                                   | 100.00                                                 | -                                      |
| 3        | DNH&DD        | 0.85              | 0.00                                                  | 0.00                                                  | 0.85                                                   | 100.00                                                 | -                                      |
| 4        | Goa           | 2.64              | 1.99                                                  | 75.44                                                 | 2.64                                                   | 100.00                                                 | -                                      |
| 5        | Gujarat       | 91.18             | 65.16                                                 | 71.46                                                 | 91.18                                                  | 100.00                                                 | -                                      |
| 6        | Haryana       | 30.41             | 17.66                                                 | 58.08                                                 | 30.41                                                  | 100.00                                                 | -                                      |
| 7        | Himachal Pr.  | 17.09             | 7.63                                                  | 44.64                                                 | 17.09                                                  | 100.00                                                 | -                                      |
| 8        | Mizoram       | 1.33              | 0.09                                                  | 6.91                                                  | 1.33                                                   | 100.00                                                 | -                                      |
| 9        | Puducherry    | 1.15              | 0.94                                                  | 81.33                                                 | 1.15                                                   | 100.00                                                 | -                                      |
| 10       | Punjab        | 34.27             | 16.79                                                 | 48.98                                                 | 34.27                                                  | 100.00                                                 | -                                      |
| 11       | Telangana     | 53.98             | 15.68                                                 | 29.05                                                 | 53.98                                                  | 100.00                                                 | -                                      |
| 12       | Uttarakhand   | 14.49             | 1.30                                                  | 9.00                                                  | 14.15                                                  | 97.63                                                  | 0.34                                   |
| 13       | Ladakh        | 0.41              | 0.01                                                  | 3.48                                                  | 0.39                                                   | 96.88                                                  | 0.01                                   |
| 14       | Bihar         | 167.55            | 3.16                                                  | 1.89                                                  | 160.36                                                 | 95.71                                                  | 7.19                                   |
| 15       | Nagaland      | 3.64              | 0.14                                                  | 3.82                                                  | 3.41                                                   | 93.60                                                  | 0.23                                   |
| 16       | Sikkim        | 1.33              | 0.70                                                  | 52.96                                                 | 1.22                                                   | 91.85                                                  | 0.11                                   |
| 17       | Lakshadweep   | 0.13              | -                                                     | 0.00                                                  | 0.12                                                   | 91.44                                                  | 0.01                                   |
| 18       | Uttar Pr.     | 267.22            | 5.16                                                  | 1.93                                                  | 240.95                                                 | 90.17                                                  | 26.27                                  |
| 19       | Maharashtra   | 146.79            | 48.44                                                 | 33.00                                                 | 132.05                                                 | 89.96                                                  | 14.73                                  |
| 20       | Tamil Nadu    | 125.26            | 21.76                                                 | 17.37                                                 | 111.64                                                 | 89.12                                                  | 13.63                                  |
| 21       | Tripura       | 7.51              | 0.25                                                  | 3.26                                                  | 6.47                                                   | 86.10                                                  | 1.04                                   |
| 22       | Karnataka     | 101.31            | 24.51                                                 | 24.20                                                 | 86.78                                                  | 85.66                                                  | 14.53                                  |
| 23       | Meghalaya     | 6.51              | 0.05                                                  | 0.70                                                  | 5.40                                                   | 82.90                                                  | 1.11                                   |
| 24       | Assam         | 72.24             | 1.11                                                  | 1.54                                                  | 58.97                                                  | 81.63                                                  | 13.27                                  |
| 25       | Chhattisgarh  | 49.98             | 3.20                                                  | 6.40                                                  | 40.60                                                  | 81.24                                                  | 9.38                                   |
| 26       | J&K           | 19.26             | 5.75                                                  | 29.87                                                 | 15.61                                                  | 81.02                                                  | 3.66                                   |
| 27       | Manipur       | 4.52              | 0.26                                                  | 5.74                                                  | 3.59                                                   | 79.59                                                  | 0.92                                   |
| 28       | Odisha        | 88.67             | 3.11                                                  | 3.51                                                  | 68.17                                                  | 76.88                                                  | 20.50                                  |
| 29       | Andhra Pr.    | 95.53             | 30.74                                                 | 32.18                                                 | 70.63                                                  | 73.93                                                  | 24.90                                  |
| 30       | Madhya Pr.    | 111.71            | 13.53                                                 | 12.11                                                 | 78.59                                                  | 70.35                                                  | 33.12                                  |
| 31       | Rajasthan     | 107.74            | 11.74                                                 | 10.90                                                 | 61.16                                                  | 56.76                                                  | 46.59                                  |
| 32       | West Bengal   | 175.53            | 2.15                                                  | 1.22                                                  | 98.56                                                  | 56.15                                                  | 76.97                                  |
| 33       | Jharkhand     | 62.54             | 3.45                                                  | 5.52                                                  | 34.43                                                  | 55.05                                                  | 28.11                                  |
| 34       | Kerala        | 70.77             | 16.64                                                 | 23.51                                                 | 38.68                                                  | 54.66                                                  | 32.09                                  |
|          | Total         | 19,36.45          | 3,23.63                                               | 16.71                                                 | 15,67.73                                               | 80.96                                                  | 3,68.72                                |

Source

: JJM-IMIS

HH: Households

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