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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1849
ANSWERED ON 09/03/2026
DELAY IN ACHIEVEMENT OF TARGETS UNDER JJM
AND RELATED PROJECTS
1849 SHRI IMRAN PRATAPGARHI:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the flagship Jal Jeevan Mission has failed to achieve its original 2024 target of
providing Functional Household Tap Connections to every rural household, necessitating its
extension to 2028;
(b) the specific reasons for this delay and the number of households that have remained
uncovered as on date; and
(c) the corrective measures Government has taken to ensure time-bound implementation,
accountability of officials and prevention of cost overruns?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI V. SOMANNA)
(a) To enable every rural household in the country to have assured potable water, in adequate
quantity of prescribed quality on regular and long-term basis, through tap water connection,
since August 2019, Government of India, in partnership with states, is implementing Jal
Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal.
At the start the Mission, only 3.23 Crore (16.7%) rural households were reported to have tap
water connections. So far, as reported by States/ UTs as on 03.03.2026, under JJM more than
12.58 Crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections.
Thus, as on 03.03.2026, out of around 19.36 Crore rural households in the country, around
15.82 Crore (81.71%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes and
works for the remaining 3.54 Crore households are at various stages of implementation in
respective States. To complete the ongoing works, Hon'ble Finance Minister during her
budget speech 2025-26 announced extension of JJM until 2028.
Page 1 of 2(b) and (c) Drinking water being a state subject, and therefore, under JJM, responsibilities for
planning, approval, implementation, operation and maintenance of drinking water supply
schemes lie with State/ UT governments. Government of India supplements the efforts of the
State/ UT government by providing technical and financial assistance. States have reported
challenges such as scarce dependable water sources in stressed areas, geogenic
contamination, difficult terrain, scattered habitations, limited technical capacity, and delays in
statutory clearances, etc. To address these challenges, the Government introduced measures
like Special Assistance for Capital Expenditure, appointed nodal officers for faster
clearances, set up SPMUs, DPMUs and the Nal Jal Mitra programme to strengthen local
technical skills. Further, initiative of Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain further promote
source sustainability, community-led conservation and women’s leadership in ensuring long-
term drinking water security.
To ensure universal coverage through tap water connection, the Department has evolved a
comprehensive multi-level and multi-format system of monitoring and evaluation of the
implementation of programme, linking AADHAR of the head of household for targeted
delivery and monitoring of specific outcomes, subject to statutory provisions, including geo-
tagging of assets created, third-party inspections before making payments, measurement and
monitoring of water supply in villages through digital solution on pilot basis, etc.
Further, to expedite the implementation and strengthening the existing monitoring
mechanisms under JJM aiming at improving efficiency and effectiveness, steps like district
level dashboards and linking of GPs level dashboards to eGramswaraj portal, District
Collectors’ Peyjal Samvad, Institutionalization of role of National WASH Experts (NWEs)
through IMIS module, role of Third Party Inspection Agency (TPIAs), strengthened
collaboration with line Ministries, Decision Support System for strengthening Source
Sustainability, Handbook on Community Managed Piped Water Systems, Unique ID for
integrated Piped Water System, etc. have recently been taken up under JJM.
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