Lok Sabha Question No. 6338 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-02
Subject: Jal Jeevan Mission and Atal Bhujal Yojana
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Sasikanth Senthil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6338

ANSWERED ON 02.04.2026

## JAL JEEVAN MISSION AND ATAL BHUJAL YOJANA

## 6338.  SHRI SASIKANTH SENTHIL:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  States  and  Union  Territories  that  have  achieved  hundred  per  cent  Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) as of February 2026;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  introduced  'Smart  Water  Meters'  with  IoT  sensors  to  prevent leakages in aspirational districts and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of the extension of the Atal Bhujal Yojana and its impact on the groundwater table in over-exploited blocks during the last two years?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) To enable every rural household in the country to have assured potable water, in adequate quantity  of  prescribed  quality  on  regular  and  long-term  basis,  through  tap  water  connection,  since August  2019,  Government  of  India  in  partnership  with  states,  is  implementing  Jal  Jeevan  Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal.

At the start the Mission, only 3.23 Crore (16.7%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by States/ UTs as on 03.03.2026, under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) Har Ghar Jal more than 12.58 Crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections.  Thus,  as  on  03.03.2026,  out  of  around  19.36  Crore  rural  households  in  the  country, around 15.82 Crore (81.71%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes. The Year-wise,  State/  UT-wise,  District-wise  and  Village-wise  status  of  tap  water  connection  provided under the Mission in rural areas is in public domain and available on JJM dashboard at:

## https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjmreport/JJMIndia.aspx

So  far,  11  States/  Union  Territories,  namely  Arunachal  Pradesh,  Goa,  Gujarat,  Haryana,  Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Punjab, Telangana, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli & Daman Diu  (DNH  &  DD),  and  Puducherry,  have  achieved  100%  coverage  of  rural  households  and  have attained the 'Har Ghar Jal (HGJ)' status.

Through Operational Guidelines, envisaging long term sustainable operation & maintenance of Rural Water  Supply  Works,  States  have  been  advised  to  utilize  real-time  monitoring  tools  such  as  flow

meters,  pressure  sensors,  online  water  quality  devices  and  SCADA  help  detect  issues  early  and improve decision-making therein ensuring operational sustainability and consistent, safe and reliable water supply to households as per JJM service standards.

(c) Atal Bhujal Yojana was a pilot project with fixed duration and outlay, implemented across 8,203 water stressed Gram Panchayats of 229 blocks in 80 districts of seven States viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The Scheme has successfully ended  demonstrating  the  efficacy  of  community  led  participatory  ground  water  management  and provided a replicable model which can be taken up for implementation by other States also, with their own budgetary arrangements. the programme has demonstrably improved groundwater management through active community participation. Preparation of participatory Water Security Plans, adoption of water efficient practices, community-led monitoring, and implementation of recharge structures have collectively contributed to better governance and sustainable use of groundwater resources. More than 83,800 supply-side structures like check dams, ponds, recharge shafts/pits etc. have been constructed/renovated for water conservation and groundwater recharge across 7 states and 180 blocks have shown improvement in ground water level.

Overall Impact Assessment Study of Atal Bhujal Yojana has been conducted by Quality Council of India  (QCI).  On  the  basis  of  detailed  field  surveys  in  the  scheme  implementation  areas  and interactions with local communities, the study has recognized important changes brought about by the scheme, like enhanced community awareness on ground water issues through capacity building and IEC activities, women's participation in leadership and decision making in groundwater management, social inclusivity and overall knowledge enhancement and willingness of the community to partake in groundwater conservation and water management.

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