Lok Sabha Question No. 4747 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-21
Subject: Review of Implementation of JJM
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Dr. Sambit Patra

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4747 ANSWERED ON 21/08/2025

## REVIEW OF IMPLEMENTATION OF JJM

†4747. DR. SAMBIT PATRA:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has conducted any study to review the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether there is any proposal under consideration of the Government to constitute a special task force to address the challenges being faced in the implementation of JJM and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of the tap water connections provided under JJM in Odisha; and

(d) whether any specific provisions have been made by the Government for implementation of JJM in coastal States and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

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

The Government of India regularly reviews the implementation JJM with States/UTs through conferences, workshops, review meetings, field visits, and other forums. During these reviews, States/UTs  are  advised  to  expedite  the  implementation  of  JJM  to  ensure  objectives  of  the missions are achieved.  Further, as stipulated in the operational guidelines, the Government of India also conducts third-party functionality assessments across States/UTs. The assessment reports are shared with the respective States/UTs for taking necessary corrective measures, wherever required.

(b)  States  have  informed  that  lack  of  dependable  drinking  water  sources  in  water-stressed, drought prone and desert areas, presence of geo-genic contaminants in ground water, uneven geographical terrain, scattered rural habitations, delay in release of the matching State share in some States, lack of technical capacity  with implementing agencies, Gram Panchayats and local communities to plan, manage, operate & maintain the water supply schemes, delay in obtaining statutory/ other clearances, etc. are few of problems being faced in the implementation of the mission.

To address the challenges holistically, 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;  setting  up  of  State  Programme  Management  Units  (SPMUs)  and  District Programme Management Units (DPMUs) and implementation of 'Nal Jal Mitra Programme' for ensuring availability of skilled local persons at village level to bridge the gap in availability of technical skill sets and of HR for programme management.

Under  the  Mission,  States  have  also  been  advised  for  source  recharging,  viz.  dedicated borewell recharge structures, rainwater recharge, rejuvenation of existing water bodies, reuse of  greywater,  etc.,in  convergence  with  other  schemes  such  as  MGNREGS,  Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), 15 th  Finance Commission tied grants to RLBs/ PRIs, State schemes, CSR funds, etc. to ensure adequate water availability for rural water supply schemes.

(c) As reported by the state of Odisha, at the start of JJM on 15.08.2019, only 3.11 lakh (3.51%) rural  households  had  tap  water  connections.  Since  then,  around  65.09  additional  rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 18.08.2025, out of 88.67 lakh rural households in the state, around 68.20 lakh (76.92%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

(d)  The  specific  provisions  for  coastal  areas  made  under  the  operational  guidelines  for implementation of JJM are as follows:

- i.) In  coastal  areas,  augmentation  of  services  can  be  done  with  energy  efficient  small desalination plants with high recovery ratio; and
- ii.) In order to avoid the ingress of sea water, sub-surface dykes can be constructed in rivers that can also improve the groundwater-based drinking water sources in the adjoining areas. Funds under MGNREGS, State schemes can be utilized for this purpose.

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