Lok Sabha Question No. 50 (STARRED), answered on 2024-07-25
Subject: Delay of JJM Works in Kerala
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri V K Sreekandan

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 50

ANSWERED ON 25/07/2024

## DELAY OF JJM WORKS IN KERALA

- *50.   SHRI SHRI V K SREEKANDAN:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to State:

- (a) whether it is a fact that Jal Jeevan Mission Rural Household Tap Connection scheme is getting delayed in Kerala;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the State Government sought any extension for the scheme to mobilise the State's share of money for the remaining works;
- (d) whether it is also true that the contractors engaged for the works under the said scheme have stopped their works due to non-payment of their bills submitted for the last nineteen months; and (e) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI (SHRI C R PATIL)

- (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

## Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) in respect of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *50  for  reply  on  25.07.2024  regarding  delay  of  JJM  works  in  Kerala  asked  by  Shri  V  K Sreekandan

(a) and (b) 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/  UTs,  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  rural  households  were  reported  to  have  tap  water connections. So far, as reported by States/ UTs as on 23.07.2024, around 11.76 Crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 23.07.2024, out of 19.32 Crore rural households in the country, around 15 Crore (77.63%) rural households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

As reported by the State Government of Kerala, at the time of launch of Jal Jeevan Mission in the State on 15 th August, 2019, approximately 16.64 lakh rural households had tap water connections. Since then, 21.12 lakhs additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus,  as  on  23.07.2024,  the  provision  of  tap  water  supply  is  available  to  around  37.76  lakhs (53.29%) rural households in Kerala.

To monitor the implementation of JJM, Government of India takes various measures such as holding joint review meetings with the State Government on regular basis and visits of multi-disciplinary teams from the Department to highlight areas of concern such as need to strengthen project planning, implementation,  monitoring  and  to  expedite  the  implementation  in  a  mission  mode  to  make provision  of  tap  water  supply  to  rural  all  households.  During  such  review  meetings,  the  State Government of Kerala has informed that one of the main reasons for delay in the award of works for  JJM  is  difficulties  in  land  acquisition  for  the  various  components  of  the  new  water  supply schemes.  The  State  Government  has  also  informed  that  various  clearances  from  forest,  NHAI, Railways,  Ministry  of  Road  &  Transport  Highways  are  pending  with  respect  to  drinking  water project/ schemes which have also affected the implementation of JJM in the State. The Department has setup a special cell for coordinating and following-up with these agencies/ authorities for timely clearances.

(c) No such request from State Government of Kerala is received regarding extension of JJM to mobilize the State's share of money for the remaining works, however, the State of Kerala has sought extension of period for awarding of works up to 16 th August 2024.

(d) and (e) The Government of India has allocated an amount of Rs.1,949.36 crores to the State Government of Kerala for the financial year 2024-25. The first tranche of the central share was released  on  6 th May  2024  amounting  to  Rs  292.40  crores.  The  corresponding  State  share  was released on 19 th June 2024. The second tranche of the central share was released on 19 th July 2024

amounting to Rs 292.40 crore. The corresponding State share is  yet to be released  by the State Government of Kerala. As informed by State Government, JJM works are in progress in the State and Rs.3,469 crores are  to be paid to the contractors towards the completed JJM  works. These payments will be made to contractors once the State releases the matching State share against the central share released by Government of India.

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