JK plans to provide 100 pc tap water connections to rural households under JJM by Dec 2022

Jammu and Kashmir is planning to achieve 100 per cent cover of tap water connection to rural households by December 2022 under Jal Jeevan Mission, Jal Shakti Ministry said on Saturday.

Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has 18.17 lakh households, out of which 8.38 lakhs (46 per cent) are alrey provided with tap water connections.

UT is allocated Rs 681.77 crore as central share under JJM for this financial year, ministry said. UT is eligible for ditional allocation based on physical and financial performance.

"UT (of J&K) is planning 100 per cent cover by December 2022 ahe of national goal of 2023-24. By doing so, J&K will be a leing example to accomplish ambitious target of providing tap connection to every rural home," ministry said in a statement.

A mid-year review of all states and UTs is being undertaken by National Jal Jeevan Mission team, Ministry of Jal Shakti through video conferencing where states/UTs are presenting status of provision of tap water connection to rural households as well as institutional mechanisms in place and way forward to ensure universal cover.

Jammu and Kashmir also presented its progress on implementation of JJM programme which aims to provide tap water connections to all rural households by 2024.

Jammu and Kashmir has finalised Vill Action Plan (VAP) in respect of 4,038 vills. VAP comprises components such as source strengning, water supply, grey water manment and operation and maintenance.

Stress was given on constitution of Vill Water and Sanitation Committees so that local vill community or gram panchayats or its sub-committee/ user groups be involved in planning, implementation, manment, operation and maintenance of water supply systems in vills to ensure long-term sustainability of water supply systems to achieve drinking water security in rural areas, statement said.

UT was asked to organise training for capacity building of gram panchayat functionaries as well as or stakeholders and also to focus on skill development training in vills to create a pool of trained human resources at vill level, which will be helpful in implementation as well O&M of water supply systems, it ded.