Lok Sabha Question No. 951 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-05
Subject: Sustainability of Water Sources
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske, Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Vishaldada Prakashbapu Patil, Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar, 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. 951

ANSWERED ON 05/02/2026

## SUSTAINABILITY OF WATER SOURCES

951. SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL SHRI RA VINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR SMT. BHARTI PARDHI SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2026, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(b) the manner in which the Government plans to ensure the sustainability of water sources to meet the objectives of JJM;

(c) whether the Government has implemented any measures to promote water conservation and rainwater harvesting at the community level, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d)  the  steps  being  taken  to  address  the  challenges  faced  by  rural  areas  in  accessing  clean drinking water; and

(e) whether the Government has set specific targets for the completion of JJM, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  Government of India is committed to make provision for safe & potable tap water supply in adequate quantity (55 lpcd), 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 JJM, 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 (16.72%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported, more than 12.55 crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 28.01.2026, out of 19.36 Crore rural households in the country, more than 15.79 Crore (81.57%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

The  proposal  for  continuation  of  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  till  December  2028  is  under consideration of the Central Government.

(b) Under the Mission, States/UTs have been advised for source recharging, viz. dedicated bore well 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), 15th Finance Commission tied grants to RLBs/ PRIs, State schemes, CSR funds, etc. Further, 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.  Morever,  recognizing  the importance of sustainable water management especially for drinking water availability, JSACTR was implemented with the theme 'Source Sustainability for Drinking Water' in 2023 and "Nari  Shakti  se  Jal  Shakti"  in  2024.  Similarly,  JSA  is  being  implemented  with  the  theme 'Peoples'  Action  for  Water  Conservation  -  Towards  Intensified  Community  Connect' emphasizing the pivotal role of community in the field of water conservation.

Further, to ensure sustainably of groundwater resources, Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) initiated a pilot on source sustainability in four States namely Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. During this pilot study, CGWB officers visited all the villages in the  study  areas  and collected  basic  field-level  information,  assessed demand  and  supply components  of  groundwater,  and  evaluated monsoon runoff  availability.  CGWB  have  also imparted trainings on Source Sustainability Interventions to the respective State Govt. officials to enable them to undertake similar studies in their respective areas.

(c)  The  Government  has  implemented  extensive,  community-led  measures  for water conservation and rainwater harvesting under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), which integrates mandatory  source  sustainability  components  like  groundwater  recharge  and  graywater management.

CGWB conducts various programs related to promotion of water conservation and rainwater harvesting at community level, which are as follows:

- Central  Ground  Water  Board  organizes  various  Public  Interaction  Programs  (PIP), Mass Awareness Programs (MAP), Tier II and Tier -III programmes on local ground water issues, wherein the local public is made aware of rainwater harvesting techniques and conservation of water harvesting structures.
- Training programmes such as Source Sustainability trainings have been conducted  on Ground Water Management through Participatory approach where information about conservation of traditional water harvesting structures have been provided and trainees have also been taken to visit these structures for exposure.

- Mass awareness programmes (Trainings, Seminars, Workshops, Exhibitions and Trade Fairs etc.) are conducted from time to time each year under the Information, Education & Communication (IEC) Scheme of DoWR, RD & GR in various parts of the country to promote rain water harvesting and artificial recharge to ground water.

(d) The  Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti  is  addressing  rural  clean  water  challenges  under  the Jal Jeevan  Mission (JJM)  by  accelerating  Functional  Household  Tap  Connections  (FHTCs), implementing technology-based water quality monitoring (2,800+ labs), and training 24.8 lakh women  in  Field  Testing  Kits  (FTKs).  Key  steps  include  strengthening  Village  Water  and Sanitation  Committees  (VWSCs), Geo-tagging  assets  on  the  PM  GatiShakti  portal,  and focusing on source sustainability through rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge in partnership with States/UTs.

(e)        The  proposal  for  continuation  of  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  till  December  2028  is  under consideration of the Central Government.

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