Jal Shakti Min Shekhawat reviews Jal Jeevan Mission in Southern states

Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Monday has emphasised the urgency to start work on Jal Jeevan Mission as the first six months of the mission are critical for the success of the mission. He was speaking at the regional review of Jal Jeevan Mission at Hyderabad. The regional review included states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and UTs of Puducherry and Lakshadweep.

Assurance to the states of smooth fund flow from the Centre

In the review, the preparation and progress on water-related schemes in the Southern States were assessed and the way forward was discussed, said an official press release. Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti highlighted the steps that are needed to be taken for proper implementation of the programme. He stressed the need for retrofitting the existing schemes to incorporate household tap connections and also for a streamlined system of financial management and assured the states of smooth fund flow from the Centre. He also advised the states on the steps envisaged for sustaining the gains of the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Five regional workshops with stakeholders already organized on JJM

Further to the announcement, the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, which is the implementing Department for the mission, has been holding region-wise stakeholder consultation workshops. Five such regional workshops with stakeholders had already been organized on JJM. After the meeting, Shekhawat also held a bilateral meeting with Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao to discuss water and sanitation issues in the state.

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JJM aims at providing FHTCs in rural areas by 2024

Announced by PM Narendra Modi on 73rd Independence Day, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims at providing Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) in rural areas by 2024. Government of India and State Governments will work in partnership to further this goal. Approximately 14.60 crores rural households of the country will be provided with FHTCs. The provisional cost estimate for this mission is Rs 3.60 lakh crores.

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