Lok Sabha Question No. 1862 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: JJM in Maharashtra
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Krupal Balaji Tumane, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1862

## LOK SABHA TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2023

## JJM in Maharashtra

## †1862. SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE: SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has achieved the objectives of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), if so, the details thereof and if not, the corrective steps taken in this regard;

(b) the challenges faced by the Government in implementing the JJM;

- (c)  the  number  of  rural  Scheduled  Castes  (SCs)/  Scheduled  Tribes  (STs)  households  in Maharashtra to which potable tap water has been provided under JJM during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (d)  the  parameters  being  considered  for  inclusion  of  villages  during  each  phase  of  the implementation of JJM;
- (e) whether the Government has held any consultation with the States and various stakeholders regarding modalities of implementation of JJM in a time bound manner and the outcomes thereof; and

(f) the estimated number of remote rural and the SC/ST households which have not been covered under JJM so far in the country, especially in Maharashtra?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a) Government of India is committed to make provision for safe & potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on a regular & long-term basis to all rural households in the country. Towards this end, the Government of India launched the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), to be implemented in partnership with States including Maharashtra, in August 2019. 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 Jal Jeevan Mission,  lies  with  State/UT  Governments.  The  Government  of  India  supports  the  States  by providing technical and financial assistance.

Significant progress has been made in the country since the launch of Jal Jeevan Mission, towards enhancing access to tap water to rural households. At the start of Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019, only 3.23 Crore (16.8%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by States/ UTs as on 11.12.2023, around 10.54 Crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 11.12.2023, out of 19.24 Crore  rural  households  in  the  country,  approximately  13.78  Crore  (71.62%)  households  are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

- (b)  Lack  of  dependable  drinking  water  sources  in  water-stressed  areas,  presence  of  geo-genic contaminants in ground water, uneven geographical terrain, scattered rural habitations, lack of capacity  of  the  local  village  communities  to  manage  and  operate  in-village  water  supply infrastructure, etc., are few challenges being faced in the implementation of the mission.
- (c) & (d) JJM follows a universal approach to cover all rural households including the remote rural households. Following the principle of 'no one is left out', under Jal Jeevan Mission, provision of tap water supply is envisaged for every rural household, including all SC/ ST rural households of Maharashtra. Further, priority is given for provision of tap water supply in water quality affected habitations, desert and drought-prone areas, SC/ ST villages, Aspirational & JE - AES affected districts, Saansad Adarsh Gramin Yojana villages, etc.

The year-wise details of the number of households having provision of tap water supply in their homes in Maharashtra during last three years and current year is as under:

(Nos in lakh)

| Financial Year   |   No. of House hold connections provided |
|------------------|------------------------------------------|
| 2020-21          |                                    37.15 |
| 2021-22          |                                    10.65 |
| 2022-23          |                                     9.06 |
| 2023-24*         |                                    10.79 |

- (e) After the announcement of JJM, a conference of Ministers in-charge of rural water supply of States/ UTs was held in New Delhi followed by five regional workshops involving States/ UTs and other stakeholders working in water sector, to discuss the modalities for implementation as well as for firming up the operational guidelines for the mission. Inputs received from various stakeholders  including  line  ministries  were  examined  and  those  found  in  consonance  with  the approval of the Government, have been incorporated while framing the Operational Guidelines for the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission and the same has been released on 25 th December, 2019.
- (f) As reported by States/UTs, the number of remaining households to be provided with tap water connection is approx. 5.46 crore in the country including Maharashtra. Further, as reported by the State on JJM-IMIS, as on 11.12.2023, out of total 146.73 lakh rural households in Maharashtra, provision of tap water supply has been made to 120.65 lakh (82.23%) households. The number of remaining households in Maharashtra is 26.08 lakhs. As such, information on remote rural and SC/ ST households is not maintained at the Government of India level.