Lok Sabha Question No. 104 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-01-29
Subject: Assessment of Drinking Water Availability in Barmer and Jaisalmer
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Ummeda Ram Beniwal

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 104

ANSWERED ON 29.01.2026

## ASSESSMENT OF DRINKING WATER AVAILABILITY IN BARMER AND JAISALMER

## 104. SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether  the  Government  has  conducted  district-wise  assessments  of  drinking  water  stress  in Barmer and Jaisalmer and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the status of household tap connections provided under the Jal Jeevan Mission in these districts;
- (c)   whether desalination or long-distance pipeline solutions are under consideration and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  the  manner  in  which  the  sustainability  of  drinking  water  supply  is  ensured  in  extreme  arid conditions?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b)  To  make  provision  of  tap  water  supply  to  every  rural  household  across  the  country, including those in Barmer and Jaisalmer districts of Rajasthan, Government of India, in partnership with States, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), since August 2019.

At the start of the Mission, around 6 thousand (2.28%) rural households were reported to have tap water  connections  in  Barmer  district  of  Rajasthan.  So  far,  as  reported  by  the  State,  around  52 thousand rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 24.01.2026,  out  of  2.73  lakh  rural  households  in  the  district,  more  than  58  thousand  (21.26%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

Similarly, at the start of the Mission, around 2 thousand (1.99%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. So far, as reported by the State, around 59 thousand rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 24.01.2026,  out  of  1.23  lakh  rural  households  in  the  district,  more  than  61  thousand  (49.83%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

(c)  &  (d)  Drinking  Water  being  a  State  subject,  it  is  States,  who  plan,  design,  approve  and implement  drinking  water  supply  schemes.  Government  of  India  supplements  the  efforts  of  the States by providing technical and financial assistance.

Under the mission, 30% weightage is assigned for difficult terrains which inter alia include areas under Desert Development Programme (DDP) and Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) while allocating the fund, to prioritize the coverage in these areas. Provisions have also been made for planning and implementation of bulk water transfer from long distances and regional water supply schemes  for  ensuring  tap  water  supply  in  drought-prone  &  water-scarce  areas/  areas  with inadequate rainfall or dependable ground water sources. In addition, provisions have been made for source recharging, viz. dedicated bore well recharge structures, rain water recharge, rejuvenation of existing water bodies, etc., in convergence with other schemes such as VB-G RAM G, Integrated Watershed  Management  Programme  (IWMP),  15th  Finance  Commission  tied  grants  to  RLBs/ PRIs, State schemes, CSR funds, etc.

As  numerous  projects  are  implemented  concurrently  at  various  levels  across  the  States  for achieving the envisaged objectives, project-wise details of individual projects/ schemes for rural water supply projects, including those of source augmentation and desalination or long-distance pipeline , are maintained at the State Government level.

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