**Executive Summary**
The Union Government signed reform-linked MoUs with the UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the State of West Bengal on May 18, 2026, under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0. These agreements establish a Gram Panchayat-led, community-centered model for rural water governance to achieve 100% tap water coverage by the extended deadline of December 2028. Key actions include transferring operational responsibilities to village committees and conducting physical reviews in lagging districts.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 Framework**
* **Timeline Extension:** The national deadline for achieving 100% tap water coverage and sanitation has been extended from May 2024 to December 2028.
* **Governance Model:** Implementation follows a service-based and community-centered rural water governance model aligned with the "Viksit Bharat @2047" vision.
* **Sustainability:** Emphasis is placed on the *Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari* (community participation) and the *Karmabhoomi se Matrubhoomi* campaign.
**Operational and Structural Reforms**
* **Decentralization:** Absolute responsibility for village-level infrastructure operations, daily maintenance, and water tariff collection must be legally transferred to Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs).
* **Administrative Oversight:** District administrations are required to hold regular District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM) meetings to finalize village-level saturation plans.
* **Accountability:** The MoUs mandate strict enforcement of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) policies by both State and UT governments.
**Regional Progress and Requirements**
* **Andaman and Nicobar Islands:** Having achieved 100% rural tap water coverage in 2021, the UT must now focus on financial reconciliation of ongoing schemes and fortifying rainwater harvesting systems due to a lack of natural inland water bodies.
* **West Bengal:** The State is urged to expedite implementation in historically lagging districts, specifically Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Purulia, while ensuring absolute transparency in the use of central financial backing.
**Impact Analysis**
**Gram Panchayats / Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs)**
**Impact**
They are now legally and structurally entrusted with the ownership and long-term sustainability of local water systems.
**Action Required**
Must take over village-level infrastructure operations, perform daily maintenance, and manage local water tariff and revenue collection.
**Government of West Bengal**
**Impact**
Required to address implementation delays and financial dependencies to meet the 2028 target.
**Action Required**
Conduct immediate physical reviews of lagging districts (Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Purulia) and implement corrective measures to speed up JJM 2.0.
**UT Administration of Andaman and Nicobar Islands**
**Impact**
Transitioning from infrastructure creation to sustainable community-led management.
**Action Required**
Swiftly complete financial reconciliation of water schemes and work with the Ministry of Jal Shakti to fortify reservoir-based supply systems.
**District Administrations**
**Impact**
Increased responsibility for localized planning and certification.
**Action Required**
Hold regular DWSM meetings to finalize village-level saturation plans and facilitate 'Har Ghar Jal' certification for panchayats.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0: The flagship central scheme aiming for 100% rural tap water coverage, under which reform-linked MoUs were signed for community-centered water governance.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The primary Union Ministry responsible for the nationwide rollout of water reforms and the signatory to the MoUs with states and UTs.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands and West Bengal: The specific Union Territory and State that signed agreements with the Union Government to implement service-based rural water supply models.
Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs): Local bodies mandated to take legal responsibility for village-level infrastructure operations, maintenance, and water tariff collection.
Har Ghar Jal: A certification awarded to villages and blocks that achieve 100% rural tap water coverage and sustainable water management.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Centre Signs Reform-Linked MoUs with
Andaman & Nicobar Islands and West Bengal
under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0
Posted On: 18 MAY 2026 7:44PM by PIB Delhi
Continuing the nationwide rollout of reform linked implementation under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0; UT of
Andaman and Nicobar Islands and State of West Bengal signed MoUs with the Union Government today.
The MoUs mark a significant milestone in advancing transparent, accountable and community- centered
model of rural water supply management aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
The reform-linked MoU mandates a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based and community-centered model
of rural water governance, aligned with the objectives of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.
The MoUs were signed during separate scheduled meetings under the presence of the Union Minister of
Jal Shakti, Shri C.R. Patil, Minister of State, Ministry of Jal Shakti Shri V. Somanna, Secretary,
DDWS Shri Ashok K. K. Meena along with senior officers from DDWS.
For UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the MoU was signed between Smt. Swati Meena Naik, Joint
Secretary (Water), DDWS, and Dr. Sachin Shinde, Secretary, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, UT of
Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The MoU was exchanged between Shri Vinod Kumar Yadav, Resident
Commissioner, A&N Islands and Shri Arun Kumar, Under Secretary, JJM at the DDWS office, New
Delhi.
The MoU with UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands was exchanged in the virtual presence of the
Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Admiral D.K Joshi; Dr. Chandra Bhushan
Kumar, Chief Secretary, A&N Islands along with senior officials from the Union Territory.Marking a key step in Centre-State collaboration, the MoU with the State of West Bengal was formally
signed at Chief Minster’s office, West Bengal in the august presence of Chief Minister of West Bengal
Shri Suvendu Adhikari, Shri Manoj Kr. Agarwal, Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal along
with senior officials from the State Government. Shri Dushyant Nariala, Principal resident commissioner,
West Bengal was present at DDWS office during the process.
The MoU was signed and exchanged between Smt. Swati Meena Naik, Joint Secretary (Water), DDWS,
and Shri Narayan Swaroop Nigam, Principal Secretary, PHE Department, West Bengal in the office of
Chief Minister, West Bengal.Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Patil, said that under the visionary
leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Jal Jeevan Mission has reached extensively at the rural
level, and the mission has emerged as a people-centric movement aimed at enhancing dignity, health and
empowerment in rural areas.
Highlighting the evolution of the Mission’s timeline, Shri Patil stated that while the original deadline was
May 2024, it has been extended till December 2028 under the guidance of the Prime Minister, with the
aim of achieving 100 per cent tap water coverage and sanitation across the country.
The Union Minister commended the Union Territory for its exemplary status as a pioneer in achieving
100% rural tap water coverage and obtaining 'Har Ghar Jal' certification across its blocks. He lauded the
administration for fully funding 100% of the financial outlays required for 40% of its remaining balance
works.
Further, the UT administration was urged to swiftly complete the financial reconciliation of all ongoing
water infrastructure schemes to maintain accounting transparency.
Under his addressal to the State of West Bengal, Shri C. R Patil urged the Chief Minister of West Bengal
to review the issues related to water within the state and take corrective measures to speed up JJM 2.0
implementation. The Union Minister requested for immediate physical reviews in the historically lagging
districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Purulia. He also urged for Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (community
participation) implementation along with an active focus on Karmabhoomi se Matrubhoomi campaign.
While addressing the legal and structural boundaries of the newly signed MoU, Shri C.R. Patil urged the
UT/State government to abide by the JJM 2.0 guidelines. As part of these guidelines, he called for strict
enforcement of the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) policy by both the UT/State. He stated that the
absolute responsibility for village-level infrastructure operations, daily maintenance, and local water
tariff/revenue collection must be legally and structurally transferred to the respective Village Water and
Sanitation Committees (VWSCs).Shri Patil further stated that Jal Jeevan Mission is not merely a scheme, but a life-impacting mission that is
bringing about fundamental improvements in health, dignity and quality of life, particularly for women
and rural communities. Thus, regular and continuous drinking water supply must be ensured in every
village, and public grievances should be addressed promptly.
Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Admiral D.K Joshi highlighted the UT’s
achievement as Andaman and Nicobar Islands achieved 100% coverage of rural households with tap water
supply in the year 2021. He stated that to ensure seamless community-led infrastructure management
under the new phase of JJM 2.0, the UT has already rolled out decentralised trial runs. A comprehensive
pilot project has been successfully completed in the Sippighat Gram Panchayat. He also mentioned that
UT administration safely closed out the initial phase of Jal Jeevan Mission, successfully consuming its
allocated budget across 40 fully completed rural water projects.
Further, he highlighted upon the vulnerabilities of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as it lacks expansive
riverine systems or permanent natural inland water bodies, making its baseline water supply entirely
dependent on captured rainwater harvested directly into localised reservoirs. In order to curb the issues, he
sought central support. He expressed his confidence that the newly signed MoU will cement a shared
resolve between the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the local administration to fortify these vulnerable supply
systemsChief Minister of West Bengal, Shri Suvendu Adhikari, highlighted that the Central Government has
systematically provided massive financial backing to the state. He expressed his gratitude towards the
central government for continuous support and showed confidence that with the newly reached agreement
for JJM 2.0, the state government will work for the people of Bengal ensuring clean drinking water supply
to all the rural households. He asserted that his government would function with absolute transparency to
fulfil the promises made under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Har Ghar Jal’ vision.
Additionally, the Chief Minister requested to expedite financial and technical support for pending
irrigation projects in West Bengal, keeping in mind the state's fragile financial health and its critical
reliance on central handholding for public welfare.
In his opening remarks, Shri Ashok K.K Meena, Secretary, DDWS highlighted that the MoU signing is a
shared commitment between the Centre and the UT/State under the Jal Jeevan Mission for providing safe,
pure and sustainable drinking water to every household. He further emphasized that under this agreement,
Gram Panchayats are now entrusted with the responsibility of managing village water systems and
collecting water taxes to ensure long-term sustainability. To support this, he called upon districtadministrations to hold regular meetings of the District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM) so that
finalisation of village-level saturation plan is carried, leading to certification of the panchayats as 'Har
Ghar Jal'.
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