New Delhi, March 24 (IANS). The central government told Parliament on Monday that the water life mission (JJM) launched in August 2019 (JJM)-Har Ghar Water Scheme has been given a connection of drinking water to more than 12.3 crore rural houses till 17 March.
Minister of State for Water Power V Somanna said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha that the number of rural families with drinking water connections in the country has increased from 3.23 crore (16.7 percent) to 15.53 crore by 17 March 2025, which is 80.2 percent of the total rural families of India.
The Union Minister said that work for the remaining 3.83 crore families is being done by the concerned state or union territory as per the scheme.
The initial estimated expenditure of the mission was Rs 3.60 lakh crore, out of which the center’s share was Rs 2.08 lakh crore. The entire central part approved by the cabinet has been almost spent.
Somanna said that apart from this, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced to increase the water life mission in her budget speech 2025-26 by 2028. Also, the total expenditure of this scheme has been increased.
The Center is operating the Water Life Mission Scheme in partnership with the states, so that every rural family of the country can be made available through connections on a quality water, regular and long -term basis.
He said that water is a state subject, so the state/union governments are responsible for the scheme, approval, implementation, operation and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes.
The Union Minister said that states/union territories have been advised through several review meetings, regional tours etc. to ensure the functionality of tap water connections provided as well as other things, including the quality of water to be supplied, as well as other things.
Somanna said that states and union territories have been advised to check water quality from time to time and take corrective action wherever necessary, ensuring that the water supplied in homes is of prescribed quality.
-IANS
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