Lok Sabha Question No. 1872 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-31
Subject: Substandard Quality of Work under JJM
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare, Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Smt. Supriya Sule, Shri Sanjay Dina Patil

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1872

ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025

## SUBSTANDARD QUALITY OF WORK UNDER JJM

## 1872.   SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAGARE:

PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

SMT. SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI SANJAY DINA PATIL:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of multiple complaints concerning substandard quality of work  under  the  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  (JJM)  and  if  reports  in  social  and  mass  media  reflect  public dissatisfaction regarding the implementation of the mission;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along with the number and nature of complaints received and the action taken to address these concerns;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any quality assessments or audits of JJM projects and if so, the details thereof indicating the key findings from such evaluations;
- (d) the monitoring mechanisms  established to ensure quality control, transparency and accountability in executing JJM projects across States; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken to ensure that the scheme effectively delivers adequate drinking water to rural households and to prevent corruption, mismanagement and poor execution of works under JJM?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA)

(a) & (b) 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.

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. As such details of individual projects/ schemes which inter alia including tendering, agencies involved for implementation of rural water supply projects

are not maintained at the Government of India level. Further, grievances/ complaints etc. inter alia including quality of work, payment of bills, work award, etc. are handled and disposed at State/ UT level.  Any  such  matter/  representation  thus  received  in  this  Department  so  far,  have  been forwarded to the State Government for taking requisite necessary action.

(c)  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.

(d)  To  ensure  universal  coverage  through  tap  water  connection,  the  Department  has  evolved  a comprehensive multi-level and multi-format system of monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of programme, linking AADHAR of the head of household for targeted delivery and  monitoring  of  specific  outcomes,  subject  to  statutory  provisions,  including  geo-tagging  of assets  created,  third-party  inspections  before  making  payments,  measurement  and  monitoring  of water supply in villages through sensor-based IoT solution etc.

(e)  A  number  of  steps  have  been  taken  to  plan  and  implement  JJM  in  the  whole  country,  with speed, inter alia , including joint discussions and finalization of saturation plans and annual action plans (AAP) of States/ UTs, regular review of implementation, workshops/ conferences/ webinars for  capacity  building,  training,  knowledge  sharing,  field  visits  by  multi-disciplinary  team  to provide technical support, etc. A detailed Operational Guideline for the implementation of JJM; Margdarshika for Gram Panchayats & VWSCs to provide safe drinking water in rural households and  Guidelines  on  a  special  campaign  to  provide  piped  water  supply  in  anganwadi  centres, ashramshalas and schools have been shared with States/ UTs to facilitate  effective planning and implementation  of  Jal  Jeevan  Mission.  For  online  monitoring,  JJM-Integrated  Management Information  System  (IMIS)  and  JJM-Dashboard has  been  put  in  place.  Provision  has  also  been made for transparent online financial management through Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

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