Lok Sabha Question No. 121 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-01-29
Subject: Implementation of JJM in Kerala
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Adv. Adoor Prakash

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO .

## - 121

ANSWERED ON 29/01/2026

## IMPLEMENTATION OF JJM IN KERALA

## 121.  ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Kerala has been halted due to insufficient funds and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
- (b) the present status of completion of projects under JJM in Kerala including the details of the projects sanctioned, the percentage of works completed and the funds released and utilised as on date;
- (c) whether Kerala is behind the national average in terms of completion of works and funds utilisation under JJM; and
- (d) if so, whether any directive has been given to the State Government of Kerala to speed up the works and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## (SHRI V. SOMANNA)

- (a) to (d) Since August 2019, Government of India is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal, in partnership with States/ UTs including Kerala, to make provision of safe and adequate tap water connection to every rural household of the country.

As reported by the state of Kerala on JJM-IMIS, at the start of JJM on 15.08.2019, only 16.64 lakh (23.51%) rural households had tap water connections. Since then, around 22.17 lakh additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as on  27.01.2026,  out  of  70.77  lakh  rural  households  in  state,  the  provision  of  tap  water connections  is  available  to  38.81  lakh  (54.83%)  rural  households  as  compared  to  the national average of 81.56%.

The state  government  of  Kerala  has  informed  that  the  pace  of  implementation  of  JJM works has slowed down due to paucity of funds. There are also other factors reported by state which has caused delay in JJM implementation such as the outbreak of the COVID19 pandemic, delays in obtaining hindrance-free land, issues related to permissions for road cutting and seasonal bans, delays in obtaining clearances from other agencies, and disruptions caused by floods and heavy rainfall.

Drinking Water being a state subject, the responsibility of planning, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including those under the JJM, lies with State/UT Governments. The Government of India supports the  States  by  providing  technical  and  financial  assistance.  Numerous  projects  are implemented concurrently at various levels across the States for achieving the envisaged objectives. As such, project-wise details of individual projects/ schemes for rural water supply projects are maintained at the level of state Government. The year-wise details of central fund allocated, fund drawn and fund utilization reported by the State of Kerala, under JJM, is as under:

(Amount in Rs. Crore)

|                | Central         | Central        | Central    | Central        | Central              | Expenditure under State share   |
|----------------|-----------------|----------------|------------|----------------|----------------------|---------------------------------|
| Financial Year | Opening Balance | Fund allocated | Fund Drawn | Available Fund | Reported utilization |                                 |
| 2019-20        | 2.58            | 248.76         | 101.29     | 103.87         | 62.69                | 57.23                           |
| 2020-21        | 41.18           | 404.24         | 303.18     | 344.36         | 304.29               | 311.25                          |
| 2021-22        | 40.07           | 1,804.59       | 1,353.44   | 1,393.51       | 957.44               | 1,059.57                        |
| 2022-23        | 436.08          | 2,206.54       | 2,206.54   | 2,642.62       | 1,741.93             | 1,741.68                        |
| 2023-24        | 900.69          | 1,342.36       | 671.18     | 1,571.87       | 1,465.41             | 1,448.53                        |
| 2024-25        | 106.45          | 1,949.36       | 974.68     | 1,081.13       | 1,081.13             | 1,403.70                        |

Source: JJM-IMIS

To expedite the provision of tap water connections to all rural households in the country including  those  in  Kerala,  concerted  efforts  have  been  made  to  accelerate  the  pace  of implementation of JJM on ground. These include measures such as holding high level joint review  meetings  with  the  state  governments  on  regular  basis  and  visits  of  multidisciplinary  teams  from  the  department  to  highlight  areas  which  need  attention  for expediting implementation to make provision of tap water supply to all households in a time  bound  manner.  A  nodal  officer  in  the  Department  has  been  nominated  for coordinating with Central nodal Ministries/ Departments/ agencies to facilitate the states in obtaining statutory/ other clearances.  The department has also held meetings with 729 District Collectors/District Magistrates/ Collectors across the country, including all from Kerala, to review various aspects of the implementation of the JJM at the district level. DMs/ DCs/ Collectors have been urged to play a leadership role in monitoring progress of JJM  through  the  District  Water  and  Sanitation  Mission  (DWSM)  dashboard  and addressing the bottlenecks to ensure effective implementation of JJM. They have further been advised to prioritize coverage in critical areas such as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group  (PVTG)  habitations,  Aspirational  Districts,  drought-prone  regions,  and  other identified priority areas.

To complete the ongoing works, Hon'ble Finance Minister during her budget speech 202526 announced extension of Jal Jeevan Mission until 2028.

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