Lok Sabha Question No. 1541 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-13
Subject: Jal Jeevan Mission-Har Ghar Jal in Maharashtra
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh, Smt. Supriya Sule, Shri Sanjay Dina Patil, Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, Shri Bajrang Manohar Sonwane, Shri Nilesh Dnyandev Lanke, Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1541 ANSWERED ON-13/02/2025

## JAL JEEVAN MISSION - HAR GHAR JAL IN MAHARASHTRA

1541.   Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare:

Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh:

Shri Sanjay Dina Patil:

Smt. Supriya Sule:

Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad:

Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe:

Shri Nilesh Dnyandev Lanke:

Shri Bajrang Manohar Sonwane:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to State:

- (a) the total number of rural households targeted and success achieved in completion of work under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal so far in Maharashtra;
- (b) the role of Panchayati Raj Institutions in implementing JJM projects in Maharashtra;
- (c) whether any training programmes have been organized for local bodies to manage water supply infrastructure and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of the funds allocated for capacity building and training in Maharashtra;
- (e) whether the Government has set any specific timeline for achieving universal coverage under the mission and if so, the details thereof;
- (f) whether the quality of drinking water provided under JJM in Maharashtra is monitored regularly and if so, the details thereof;
- (g) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure that the water supplied meets BIS standards  for  drinking  water  and  to  ensure  the  quality  and  sustainability  of  the  water  supply infrastructure created under the said mission; and
- (h) the number of water quality testing laboratories set up in Maharashtra under JJM?

## ANSWER

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

(a) :  Since August 2019, Government of India in partnership with States is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal to make provision of potable water to every rural household

of the country, through functional tap water connection i.e. at a service level of 55 litre per capita per day (lpcd), of prescribed quality (BIS:10500), on regular and long-term basis.

As reported by the State Government of Maharashtra, at the time of launch of JJM in the State on 15.08.2019, only 48.44 lakh rural households had tap water connections. Since then, 81.16 lakh additional  rural  households  have  been  provided  with  tap  water  connections.  Thus,  as  on 10.02.2025, out of 146.81 lakh rural households in the State, the provision of tap water supply is available to more than 129.59 lakhs (88.28%) rural households.

(b) : In consonance with 73rd Amendment of Constitution of India, Gram Panchayat or its subcommittee/ user group i.e.  Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC), Paani Samiti, etc. are to plan, implement, manage, operate and maintain in- village water supply system.  The details of various functions of Gram Panchayat under Jal Jeevan Mission are annexed .

(c) : DDWS in collaboration with the MSDE has developed the Nal Jal Mitra Program (NJMP), to ensure the availability of Multi Skilled Persons in the village, who can be engaged by the Gram Panchayat for Operation and Maintenance of Water Supply schemes. The Multi-Skilling Short Term  Training  (STT)  for  Operation  &  Maintenance  (O&M)  in  Rural  Water  Supply  Sector (RWSS), under NJMP, covers Plumbing, Pump Operations, Associated Masonry and Associated Electrical.  Further  under  NJMP,  RPL  (Recognition  to  prior  learning)  /  Upskilling  course  was approved in January, 2024. Under this course, the Skilled Candidates are certified through Initial Qualifying Assessment (IQA) and Semi-Skilled Candidates are provided 120 hours for Upskilling followed by Final Assessments and Certification.

(d) : Under Jal Jeevan Mission, up to 5% of the allocation funds to the State are to be used for Support  activities  which  include  IEC,  human  resources  development,  mobilization  of  local communities  etc.  Water  is  a  State  subject,  the  Government  of  India  supports  the  States  by providing  technical  and  financial  assistance.  The  responsibility  of  implementation  including capacity building and training taken up under JJM lies with the State government. As such, no information on fund allocation for capacity building and training is maintained at Government of India level.

(e)  : As reported by Government of Maharashtra, the State is planning for saturation by March 2026.

(f)  : To enable States/ UTs to test water samples for water quality, and for sample collection, reporting, monitoring and surveillance of drinking water sources, an online JJM - Water Quality Management Information System (WQMIS) portal has been developed. The State-wise details of water quality test reported through WQMIS, including Maharashtra, are available in public domain and can be accessed at:

## https://ejalshakti.gov.in/WQMIS/Main/report

(g)  :  Under  the  Jal  Jeevan  Mission,  as  per  existing  guidelines,  Bureau  of  Indian  Standards' BIS:10500 standards are adopted as benchmarks for ensuring the quality of water being supplied through the piped water supply schemes.

Further,  as  per  the  Operational  Guidelines,  States/  UTs  can  utilize  up  to  2%  of  their  annual allocation of funds under JJM for Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance (WQM&S) activities, inter-alia, which  includes  setting  up  and  strengthening  of  water  quality  testing  laboratories,

procurement  of  equipment,  instruments,  chemicals,  glassware,  consumables,  hiring  of  skilled manpower,  surveillance  by  community  using  field  test  kits  (FTKs),  awareness  generation, educational  programmes  on  water  quality,  accreditation/recognition  of  laboratories,  etc.  The mission  has  focused  on  NABL  accreditation/  recognition  of  all  labs,  as  it  will  increase  of confidence  in  testing  data,  personnel  performing  work  and  testing  reports  issued  by  the laboratories.

(h) : As reported by Government of Maharashtra, there are 178 water quality testing laboratories in Maharashtra.

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## The Gram Panchayat and/ or its sub-committee, i.e.VWSC/ Paani Samiti/ User Group, etc. are to discharge the following functions:

i.)  provide FHTC to every existing rural HH and any new HH that may emerge in future, and ensure that scattered households located away from main settlements also get FHTCs;

ii.) ensure preparation of Village Action Plan (VAP) for water supply scheme;

iii.) plan, design, implement, operate and maintain the in-village water supply schemes and decide seasonal supply hours;

iv.) procure construction services/ goods/ materials from agencies/ vendors as finalized by SWSM through centralized item rate tendering;

v.)  mobilize and motivate the community to contribute 5% or 10% of in-village infrastructure capital expenditure, as the case may be. The contribution may be in the form of cash and/ or kind and/ or labour;

vi.) supervise construction of in-village infrastructure including source sustainability, greywater reuse, water conservation measures, etc.;

vii.) open bank account/ use existing account of GP for community contribution and depositing O&M service charge. In case an existing account is being used, it should be ensured that a separate ledger is to be maintained for contribution and incentive;

viii.) create and maintain register for accounts which should reflect community contribution in terms of cash and/ or kind and/ or labour; costs towards construction; O&M costs/ water tariff collection and incentive received;

ix.) mobilize community for PRA activities;

x.) firm up and collect water tariff/ user charges;

xi.)  will  be  responsible  for  management  and  regular  O&M  of  in-village  water  supply  system including local water sources;

- xii.) record drinking water asset details in GP/ village asset register;
- xiii.) facilitate trials runs on scheme completion;

xiv.) facilitate third party functionality inspection and functionality assessment;

xv.) hold periodic meetings at least four times in a year and maintain minutes/ record of the same;

xvi.) ensure water quality testing using Field Test Kits (FTKs), periodic testing at laboratories & disseminate the same among community and undertake sanitary inspection. Engage/ train rural youth/ students/ women to carry out these activities;

xvii.) may engage a dedicated person to ensure water quality test using FTKs, as per the respective State policy;

xviii.) undertake social audit;

xix.) conduct awareness campaigns on judicious use of water, come up with mechanisms to ensure no misuse of water and ensure prescribed IEC campaigns including wall-paintings, etc.

xx.) hire/ arrange pump operator, barefoot technician, attend regular repair and maintenance work, and operate the system.

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