Lok Sabha Question No. 5315 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-03
Subject: Halt in the Implementation of JJM in Kerala
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Adv. Adoor Prakash

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5315

ANSWERED ON 03.04.2025

## HALT IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF JJM IN KERALA

5315. ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government is aware that the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission in Kerala has been halted due to insufficient funds;
- (b) if so, whether the Union Government has received any request from the State Government of Kerala for releasing the funds to complete the pending works and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the present status of the completion of projects under JJM in Kerala along with the details of the percentage of work completed and the funds released and utilized as on date;
- (d) whether the Union Government is also aware that Kerala is behind the national average in the completion of works and fund utilization under JJM;
- (e) if  so,  whether  the  Union  Government  has  given  any  directive  to  the  State  Government  of Kerala to speed up the works and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the State Government of Kerala has sought an extension for the project deadline and if so, the details thereof along with the decision taken/likely to be taken by the Union Government thereon?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (f)   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, including those in the State of Kerala, through functional tap water connection.

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 31.03.2025, under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) Har  Ghar  Jal  around  12.34  Crore  additional  rural  households  have  been  provided  with  tap  water connections. Thus, as on 31.03.2025, out of 19.36 Crore rural households in the country, more than 15.57 Crore (80.38%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

Similarly,  in  Kerala,  at  the  start  of  the  Mission,  only  16.64  lakh  (23.51%)  rural  households  were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by the State as on 31.03.2025, under Jal Jeevan  Mission  (JJM)  -  Har  Ghar  Jal  around  21.92  lakh  additional  rural  households  have  been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as on 31.03.2025, out of 70.77 lakh rural households in the State, more than 38.56 lakh (54.48%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

Drinking  Water  being  a  state  subject,  the  responsibility  of  planning,  approval,  implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including those under the Jal Jeevan Mission,  lies  with  State/UT  Governments.  The  Government  of  India  supports  the  States  by providing  technical  and  financial  assistance.  Numerous  projects  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 not maintained at the Government of India level. Year-wise details of Central fund allocated, fund drawn and fund utilization reported by the State of Kerala is as under:

(Amount in Rs. Crore)

|         | Central         | Central        | Central    | Central        | Central              | Expenditure under State share   |
|---------|-----------------|----------------|------------|----------------|----------------------|---------------------------------|
| Year    | Opening Balance | Fund allocated | Fund drawn | Available Fund | Reported utilization |                                 |
| 2019-20 | 2.58            | 248.76         | 101.29     | 103.87         | 62.69                | 57.23                           |
| 2020-21 | 41.18           | 404.24         | 303.18     | 344.36         | 304.29               | 311.25                          |
| 2021-22 | 40.07           | 1,804.59       | 1,353.44   | 1,393.51       | 957.44               | 1,059.57                        |
| 2022-23 | 436.08          | 2,206.54       | 2,206.54   | 2,642.62       | 1,741.93             | 1,741.68                        |
| 2023-24 | 900.69          | 1,342.36       | 671.18     | 1,571.87       | 1,465.41             | 1,448.53                        |
| 2024-25 | 106.45          | 1,949.36       | 974.68     | 1,081.13       | 996.49               | 982.74                          |

Source: JJM-IMIS

Moreover, to achieve 100 per cent coverage through continued implementation of mission, Hon'ble Finance Minister during her budget speech 2025-26 has announced extension of Jal Jeevan Mission until 2028 with enhanced total outlay.

A  number  of  steps  have  been  taken  to  plan  and  implement  JJM  in  the  whole  country  including Kerala, 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  multidisciplinary  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 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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