Lok Sabha Question No. 3367 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Drinking Water Projects under JJM
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Manickam Tagore B

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3367

ANSWERED ON 20/03/2025

## DRINKING WATER PROJECTS UNDER JJM

## 3367. SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the  progress  made  towards  the  Government's  target  of  providing  drinking  water  to  all households by 2030;

(b) the details of the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure that drinking water projects  under  the  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  (JJM)  are  completed  on  time,  given  the  significant delays and lack of infrastructure in many regions;

(c) the manner in which the Government is planning to ensure the sustainability of drinking water  sources  in  the  long  term  given  that  several  States  are  facing  acute  water  scarcity, especially in rural and drought-prone areas;

(d)  the  measures  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  address  water  quality  issues, particularly contamination by fluoride, arsenic and other pollutants in rural and urban areas; and

(e) the way in which the Government is addressing the issue of water wastage in urban areas where inefficient distribution systems and leaking pipes contribute to significant losses?

## ANSWER

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

(a) Since August, 2019, Government of India is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in partnership with States to make provision of potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular & long-term basis to every rural household in the country.

At the launch of Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019, only 3.23 Crore (16.8%) rural households in the country were reported to have tap water connections. Since then, as reported by States/ UTs,  around  12.29  Crore  additional  rural  households  have  been  provided  with  tap  water connections under JJM, as on 16.03.2025. Thus, as on 16.03.2025, out of total 19.37 Crore rural  households  in  the  country,  more  than  15.52  Crore  (80.19%)  households  have  been provided tap water connections.

(b)  Water  is  a  state  subject.  The  responsibility  of  planning,  approval,  implementation, operation,  and  maintenance  (O&M)  of  drinking  water  supply  schemes  lies  with  State/UT Governments.  The  Government  of  India  supports  the  States  by  providing  technical  and financial assistance.

To  address the challenges in JJM  implementation holistically and overcome  these, Government  of  India  has  taken  a  number  of  steps,  inter  alia  including  implementation  of Special  Assistance  to  States  for  Capital  Expenditure  through  M/o  Finance  for  financial assistance as 50-year interest free loan for capital investment projects; nomination of a nodal officer  in  the  Department  for  coordinating  with  Central  nodal  Ministries/  Departments/ agencies to facilitate the States in obtaining Statutory/ other clearances, etc. so as to avoid any unnecessary delays in project implementation.

(c) Development of reliable drinking water sources and/ or augmentation of existing sources to provide long-term sustainability of water supply system in villages, is an integral part of JJM. To achieve this objective, following provisions have been made in operational guidelines for the implementation of JJM:

- i.) Any  water  supply  scheme  undertaken under JJM  is approved  only after the recommendation of a Source Finding Committee of the respective state government, to the effect that the identified water source through which the scheme is planned, has sufficient yield for sustaining water supply as per required norm, for the scheme design period.
- ii.) Development/ strengthening/ augmentation of drinking water sources and infrastructure for bulk transfer of water, treatment, and distribution systems in water deficit droughtprone and desert areas without dependable ground water sources apart from creation of in-village water supply infrastructure.
- iii.) Strengthening of drinking water sources in convergence with other schemes such as MGNREGS, Finance Commission grants to rural local bodies/ PRIs, MP & MLA's Local Area Development Fund, District Mineral Development Fund, CSR fund, etc.

A special initiative Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) under Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): Catch the rain (CTR) campaign has been launched on September 6, 2024, which aims to promote collaborative community-driven water conservation efforts and focuses on enhancing water management through low-cost, scientifically designed artificial recharge structures, ensuring active participation from local communities, industries, and other stakeholders.

(d) & (e) Under the JJM, as per existing guidelines, Bureau of Indian Standards' BIS:10500 standards are adopted as benchmark for quality of water being supplied through the piped water supply schemes.

As reported by States on JJM-IMIS, as on date, there are 314 Arsenic and 251 Fluoride affected rural habitations in the country and all these habitations have been provided with safe drinking water through CWPPs/ IHPs. Thus, all habitation in rural area of the country are provided safe drinking water free from Arsenic and Fluoride contamination. Since the inception of JJM, 13,706  Arsenic  affected  and  7,745  fluoride  affected  habitations  have  been  reported  to  be covered with pipe water supply.

A Handbook on Drinking  Water  Treatment  Technologies  was  released  in  March  2023  to disseminate  information  regarding  new  technologies  available  amongst  all  stakeholders  to improve  the  performance  and  implementation  of  drinking  water  treatment  plants  using technologies that address local issues and challenges faced in water-quality affected villages. The States may take up appropriate water treatment system depending upon techno-economic feasibility.

In consultation with various stakeholders, "Concise Handbook for Monitoring Water Quality of Piped Drinking Water Supply to Rural Households" has been issued for guidance to States/ UT in December 2024. The Handbook recommends water quality testing methodology such as identifying sample collection points, testing parameters, testing frequency and number of samples, sample turnaround time, and remedial action for contamination.

In  respect  of  urban  areas,  under  Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)  of  M/o  Housing  and  Urban  Affairs  (MoHUA),  4,734  MLD  Water  Treatment capacity have been created. Similarly, projects covering 10,674 water treatment capacity, have been approved under AMRUT 2.0, so far.

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