Lok Sabha Question No. 791 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: Uninterrupted Supply of Water in Nashik
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Rajabhau Parag Prakash Waje

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 791

ANSWERED ON 04.12.2025

## UNINTERRUPTED SUPPLY OF WATER IN NASHIK

## 791. SHRI RAJABHAU PARAG PRAKASH WAJE

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the statistical details of households in Nashik district currently receiving 24x7 tap water supply without any interruptions during the last three years;

(b) the statistical details of third-party inspections conducted in Nashik to check the sustainability and  quality  of  water  supply  infrastructure  under  the  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  (JJM)  before  clearing payments to contractors;

(c) the data on the frequency of water sample testing to ensure the quality of drinking water supplied to households in Nashik including irregularities found, if any;

(d) the details of water testing laboratories established in Nashik district including their capacity, operational status and the rates fixed for testing drinking water samples; and

(e) the key challenges and bottlenecks faced in implementing JJM in Nashik along with the specific steps taken by the Government to overcome these, especially in hilly or tribal areas?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) Drinking water is a state subject and the power to plan, approve and implement drinking water  supply  schemes/  projects  is  vested  in  the  State  Government.  Government  of  India,  in partnership with States/ UTs is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission, since August, 2019, to make provision of tap water supply to every rural household in the country. Significant progress has been made in the state of Maharashtra 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 48.44 lakh (33%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by State, around 83.92 lakh additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 01.12.2025, out of 146.78 lakh rural households in the state, more than 132.36 lakh (90.18%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

Whereas in Nashik, at the start of Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019, only 1.71 lakh (23.85%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by State, around 5.05

lakh additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on date, out of 7.18 lakh rural households in the state, more than 6.76 lakh (94.22%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes. Further, water supply duration is managed by local authorities.

As per operational guidelines for implementation of JJM, payment for all works executed under JJM are to be made only after Third party Inspection of said works.

Furthermore, an assessment of functionality of tap connection is also done nationally. As per the national  functionality  assessment  2024  undertaken  by  the  Department  of  Drinking  Water  and Sanitation (DDWS), Nashik district 97.9% of Households were found with tap water connection, with 99.9% connections in working condition. Out of which, 63.3% households receive adequate quantity of water, 90.3% receive potable water as per district reports, and 99.2% households get regular supply.

(c) & (d) To ensure the quality of water supply to households, the department has revised the testing protocol for Rural piped water supply system (RPWSS) infrastructure including the delivery points. As  per  the  protocol,  in  each  village,  2  samples  should  be  collected  from  different  households (delivery points) every month for both chemical and bacteriological parameters.

As per data reported by the State on WQMIS/ IMIS of this department, there are a total of 7 water quality testing laboratories in Nashik district of Maharashtra which have the capability/ facilities to test the for bacteriological and chemical parameters. All these labs can be accessed by the public for water quality testing at nominal rates.

(e)  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.

To expedite the planning and implementation, as well as monitoring and handhold States/ UTs including Maharashtra, Government of India has taken number of steps to plan and implement JJM in the whole country which inter alia includes discussion and finalization of annual action plan (AAP)  in  consultation  with  States/  UTs,  regular  review  of  planning  and  implementation, workshops/ conferences/ webinars for capacity building and knowledge sharing, field visits by multi-disciplinary team to provide technical support, etc.

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