J&K commits to provide piped drinking water to every rural household by December 2022 under Jal Jeevan Mission

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 24

Jammu and  Kashmir on Saturday committed to the Centre to provide piped drinking water to every rural household by December 2022 under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), ahead of the national dead-line.

The commitment was reaffirmed during the Union Jal Shakti Ministry’s review meeting with J&K authorities on the status of implementation of the JJM.

The JJM is a key scheme of Centre with a goal to provide piped potable water to every rural household by 2023-24.

During the review meeting, Jammu and Kashmir authorities presented their progress on implementation of the scheme in the Union Territory.

The Ministry was informed that Jammu and Kashmir was all set to fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call  to ensure piped potable water supply for every school and Anganwadi centre across the country within 100 days.

Subsequent to Modi’s call, the Ministry had launched the 100-day campaign on the 151st Gandhi Jayanti on October 2.

The UT has 18.17 lakh households, out of which 8.38 lakhs (46 per cent) are already provided with tap water connections.

It is allocated Rs 681.77 crore as Central share under the JJM for this financial year.

J&K is eligible for additional allocation based on physical and financial performance.

The UT has finalised the Village Action Plan (VAP) in respect of 4,038 villages.

The VAP’s components include  source strengthening, water supply, grey water management and operation and maintenance.