Parliament Question: Drinking Water Supply in Perambalur

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 749 ANSWERED ON 23/07/2026 DRINKING WATER SUPPLY IN PERAMBALUR 749. THIRU ARUN NEHRU: Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware of the severe and prolonged shortage of drinking water in villages such as V. Kalathur in Veppanthattai Taluk and in Perambalur Municipality (21 wards) falling under Perambalur Lok Sabha Constituency leading to public protests and road blockades and if so, the details thereof; (b) the present status of drinking water supply in the said areas; (c) the present status and expected timeline for completion of the Combined Water Supply Scheme (CWSS) from the Kollidam River for which Rupees 366.50 crore has been allocated; and (d) the steps taken to provide immediate relief through water tankers and other alternative arrangements until the scheme becomes fully operational? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA) (a) to (d) To enable every rural household in the country, including those in Perambalur Lok Sabha Constituency, 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, has been implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal. At the start of the Mission, around 0.06 lakh (2.28%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections in Perambalur district of Tamil Nadu. So far, as reported by the State, around 0.52 lakh rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 18.07.2026, out of 2.73 lakh rural households in the district, more than 0.58 lakh (21.37%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes. Moreover, as reported by the State, V. Kalathur Gram Panchayat in Veppanthattai block of Perambalur Page 1 of 2district have already achieved Har Ghar Jal status i.e. 100% households have tap water supply in their homes. As drinking water being a state subject, under JJM, responsibilities for planning, approval, implementation, operation and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes lie with State/ UT governments. The details of villages being provided drinking water through water tankers are maintained at state government level. As informed by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), it provides financial and technical support to the States through its schemes/ Missions such as Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT 2.0) for improvement/ augmentation of basic infrastructure in the sectors of water supply, sewerage and septage management, water body rejuvenation and parks and green spaces through approved projects. AMRUT 2.0 is launched in the year 2021 in all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/ cities, enabling the cities to become 'self-reliant' and 'water secure'. Providing universal coverage of sewerage and septage management in 500 AMRUT cities is one of the major focus areas of AMRUT 2.0. Rejuvenation of water bodies and development of green spaces and parks are other components of the mission. Under the Mission, States/ Union Territories (UTs) are empowered to select, appraise, prioritize and implement projects. Under AMRUT 2.0, the State of Tamil Nadu has taken up 3 projects worth ₹374.22 crore (including operation and Maintenance cost) in Perambalur Municipality, which includes 1 water supply project worth ₹373.93 crore, 1 water body rejuvenation project worth ₹0.11 crore and 1 park project worth ₹0.18 crore. As per the progress reported by the State on AMRUT 2.0 portal, as on 09.07.2026, the water supply project titled ‘Combined Water Supply Scheme to Perambalur Municipality and State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) Industrial Complex located at Erayur and Padalur in Perambalur District with River Kollidam as source’ is 92% physically completed. ***** Page 2 of 2