Lok Sabha Question No. 794 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-24
Subject: Strategies under Jal Jeevan Mission
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Smt. Bharti Pardhi, Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 794

ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025

## STRATEGIES UNDER JAL JEEVAN MISSION

## †794.   SMT. BHARTI PARDHI: SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) the  strategies  being  implemented  to  ensure  long-term  operation  and  maintenance  of  rural piped water supply schemes and to promote community ownership and participation (Jan Bhagidari) under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM);
- (b) the support provided to Gram Panchayats in this regard;
- (c) the details of the specific and targeted interventions implemented to improve water security and  prevent  "Day  Zero"  scenario  in  severely  water-stressed  or  groundwater-deficient  States, particularly in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra; and
- (d) the success achieved so far in this regard, State-wise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  &  (b)      To  enable  every  rural  household  in  the  country,  to  have  assured  potable  water,  in adequate  quantity  of  prescribed  quality  on  regular  and  long-term  basis,  through  tap  water connection, since August 2019, Government of India in partnership with States including Madhya Pradesh & Maharashtra, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal.

At  the  start  of  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 22.07.2025, under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal around 12.44 Crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as on 22.07.2025, out of 19.36 Crore rural households in the country, more than 15.67 Crore (80.94%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

Similarly, at the start of the Mission, only 13.53 lakh (12%) rural households were reported to have tap  water  connections  in  the  State  of  Madhya  Pradesh.  So  far,  as  reported  by  the  State  as  on 21.07.2025, under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal more than 65.03 lakh additional rural households  have  been  provided  with  tap  water  connections.  Thus,  as  on  21.07.2025,  out  of  1.11 Crore rural households in the State, more than 78.56 lakh (70.33%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

Similarly, at the start of the Mission, only 48.44 lakh (33%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections in the State of Maharashtra. So far, as reported by the State as on 21.07.2025, under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal more than 83.58 lakh additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as on 21.07.2025, out of around 1.47 Crore rural households in the State, more than 1.32 Crore (89.94%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

Since its launch, Jal Jeevan Mission is being implemented as a decentralized, demand-driven and community-managed  programme,  wherein  the  Gram  Panchayat  and/  or  its  sub-committee/  user group i.e.  Village  Water  &  Sanitation  Committee  (VWSC)/  Pani  Samiti are  being  empowered  to plan, implement, manage, operate and maintain in-village water supply system to provide regular and assured tap water supply in rural households.

Under JJM, NGOs/ Community Based Organizations (CBOs)/ Self Help Groups (SHGs)/ Voluntary Organizations (VOs), etc. are also being empaneled as Implementation Support Agencies (ISAs) to handhold  and  train  VWSCs/  Pani  Samitis  in  planning,  mobilizing  and  engaging  communities, disseminating information and encouraging women participation for ensuring long-term maintenance of the water supply infrastructure.

To bring in 'sense of ownership and pride' among rural communities, provision has been made for community contribution to the extent of 5% of the in-village infrastructure cost in case of NorthEastern States and difficult/ hilly areas, forested, water-stressed and villages with more than 50% SCs/ STs population, and 10% in remaining villages.

Moreover, for enabling the local village community to play their role in planning, implementation and to shoulder the responsibility of operation and maintenance, Nal Jal Mitra Programme (NJMP) has  been  launched  in  collaboration  with  Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship  to equip them with a comprehensive set of skills & develop 'Nal Jal Mitras', so that they can function as scheme operators and are able to carry out minor repairs and maintenance, including preventive maintenance,  of  the  piped  water  supply  scheme(s)  in  their  village  as  skilled  masons,  plumbers, fitters, electricians, motor mechanics, pump operators, etc.

While preparing VAPs, dovetailing of resources available at village level under various programmes like  15th  Finance  Commission  tied  grant  for  water  &  sanitation  to  RLBs/  PRIs,  JJM,  SBM(G), MGNREGS,  MP/  MLA  -  Local  Area  Development  Funds,  District  Mineral  Development  Fund (DMDF), CSR Fund, community contributions, etc. is of paramount importance. In long-term, it is expected that village community will dovetail and utilize all available resources for long-term water security of the village.

(c)  &  (d)  As  informed  by  the  Department  of  Water  Resources,  River  Development  and  Ganga Rejuvenation (DOWR&GR), Water being a State subject, Government of India providing technical and  financial  support  to  assist  State  efforts.  Initiatives  such  as  the  National  Aquifer  Mapping (NAQUIM) and the Master Plan for Artificial  Recharge (2020) encourage the implementation of rainwater  harvesting  structures.  Additionally,  the  Central  Ground  Water  Authority  regulates groundwater usage and mandates rainwater harvesting in critical zones to ensure sustainable water management. Besides, DoWR, RD&GR has circulated a Model Bill to all the States/UTs to enable them  to  enact  suitable  ground  water  legislation  for  regulation  of  its  development,  which  also includes  provision  of  rainwater  harvesting.  So  far,  21  States/UTs,  including  Maharashtra  and Madhya Pradesh have adopted and implemented the ground water legislation.

CGWB has also implemented artificial recharge projects in Maharashtra and other states to boost groundwater.  Recent  data  shows  an  encouraging  trend  in  overall  groundwater  extraction  reduced from 63.33% in 2017 to 60.47% in 2024, with safe assessment units increasing and over-exploited units  decreasing.  Groundwater  monitoring  in  Maharashtra  indicates  76%  of  wells  showed  rising water  levels  post-monsoon  2024,  reflecting  progress  in  groundwater  sustainability.  Similarly,  in Madhya Pradesh, about 71% of the monitored wells reflect an increase in water levels.

Further, Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) monitors groundwater levels throughout the country including Maharashtra, four times in every year. DoWR&GR along with the Central Ground Water Board  (CGWB)  and  State  Governments, conducts annual assessments of India's  dynamic groundwater resources.

Moreover, Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) campaign aiming to encourage water conservation  at  grass-root  levels  with  people's  participation  was  launched  in  2019  in  256  water stressed districts of  the  country.  Further,  recognizing the  importance  of  sustainable  water management especially for drinking water availability, JSA-CTR was implemented with the theme 'Source  Sustainability  for  Drinking  Water'  in  2023.  Similarly,  in  2024,  JSA  was  implemented with the theme "Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti" and in 2025, JSA is being implemented with the theme 'People's Action for Water Conservation - Towards Intensified Community Connect' emphasizing the pivotal role played by community especially women in the field of water conservation.

JSA:CTR  involves  inter-sectoral  convergence  of  all  development  programmes  like  MGNREGS; AMRUT; Repair, Renovation and Restoration Scheme; Water Shed Development Scheme; Per Drop More Crop etc. As per the information uploaded by various stakeholders on the JSA:CTR portal (jsactr.mowr.nic.in) till date, around 1.87 crores water related works have been undertaken, around 13 lakh traditional water bodies were renovated/on-going, and around 78 lakh watershed development structures under the JSA:CTR campaign.

In addition, various initiatives have been launched to promote water conservation and management. The  important  steps  taken  by  the  Central  Government  for  sustainable  ground  water  management across the country can be seen at web-link :

https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3a70dc40477bc2adceef4d2c90f47eb82/uploads/2024/07/202407167 06354487.pdf.

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