Lok Sabha Question No. 1688 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-05
Subject: Setting up of Water Pipelines in Remote Areas of West Bengal
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Khalilur Rahaman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1688

ANSWERED ON 05/12//2024

## SETTING UP OF WATER PIPELINES IN REMOTE AREAS OF WEST BENGAL

## 1688.   KHALILUR RAHAMAN

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to set up water pipelines in remote areas of West Bengal and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  number  of  rural  households  covered  with  tap  water  connections  and  the  estimated number of households yet to be covered in the country especially in West Bengal;
- (c) whether the Government has implemented Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal scheme in all the States of the country especially in West Bengal;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the features of the scheme and the estimated cost thereof especially in West Bengal, district-wise; and
- (e) the time by which all rural households are likely to be provided with safe drinking and tap water supply in the country particularly in West Bengal?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## (SHRI V. SOMANNA)

- (a) to (d) Since August 2019, Government of India, in partnership with states, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to make provision of tap water supply to every rural household of the country, including those in West Bengal. JJM follows a universal approach to cover all rural households in the country including those in the remote areas.

Significant  progress  has  been  made  in  the  country  since  the  launch  of  JJM,  towards enhancing access to tap water to rural households. At the start of JJM in August 2019, only 3.23 crore rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by States/ UTs, around 12.09 crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 02.12.2024, out of 19.34 crore rural households in the country, around 15.32 crore (79.22%) rural households are reported to have provision of  tap  water  supply  in  their  homes  and  4.02  crore  rural  households  are  remaining  to  be covered.

As reported by the state government of West Bengal, at the time of launch of JJM in the state on 15.08.2019, approximately 2.14 lakh rural households had tap water connections. Since  then,  91.84  lakh  additional  rural  households  have  been  provided  with  tap  water

connections.  Thus,  as  on  02.12.2024,  out  of  175.25  lakh  rural  households  in  state,  the provision of tap water supply is available to around 93.99 lakh (53.64%) rural households and 81.26 lakh rural households are remaining to be covered.

The key features of JJM are to make provision of potable water to every rural household through  tap  water  connection  at  a  service  level  of  55  litre  per  capita  per  day  (lpcd),  of prescribed quality (BIS:10500), on regular and long-term basis. The estimated outlay of the mission is Rs. 3.60 lakh crore, out of which central share is Rs. 2.08 lakh crore. Districtwise fund estimates/ allocations are neither made nor maintained by this department.

- (e) Drinking  water  is  a  'state'  subject,  and  hence,  the  responsibility  of  planning,  approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including those under the JJM, lies with State/ UT Governments. The Government of India supports the states by providing technical and financial assistance. Under JJM, States/ UTs prepare saturation plan for making provision of potable tap water supply to every household.

As  on  02.12.2024,  8  states  viz.  Arunachal  Pradesh,  Goa,  Gujarat,  Haryana,  Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Punjab & Telangana and 3 union territories of A & N Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu & Puducherry have reported to be Har Ghar Jal. Further, the state of West Bengal has informed that it will saturate all eligible rural households with tap water connections by December, 2026.

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