Parliament Question: Ensuring tap water for all

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 256 ANSWERED ON 02/02/2026 ENSURING TAP WATER FOR ALL 256 SHRI I.S. INBADURAI:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the manner in which the enhanced ₹67, 000 crore allocation under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) ensures 100 per cent rural household tap water coverage and long-term sustainability;

(b) steps taken to strengthen O&M, water quality monitoring and greywater management under JJM, ensuring reliable and safe rural water supply;

(c) the manner in which ‘Jan Bhagidhari’ is being promoted to engage communities in planning, implementation and management of water supply systems for improved service delivery; and

(d) the initiatives to address Arsenic and Fluoride contamination in priority districts, ensuring equitable access to safe drinking water nationwide? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA)

(a) to (d) Since Augpust 2019, Government of India in partnership with States is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal to make provision of potable water to every rural household across the country. Drinking Water being a State subject, Government of India supplements the efforts of the States by providing technical and financial assistance.

Significant progress has been made in the country since the launch of Jal Jeevan Mission, towards enhancing access to tap water to rural households. At the start of Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019, only 3.23 Crore (16.72%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported, more than 12.55 crore additional rural households have been

provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 28.01.2026, out of 19.36 Crore rural households in the country, more than 15.79 Crore (81.56%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

The total estimated outlay of the Mission was Rs. 3.60 lakh Crore out of which Central share was Rs. 2.08 lakh Crore. The approved Central outlay has almost been utilized till 2024-25. Further, considering the progress achieved so far and ongoing works, Hon’ble Finance Minister has announced extension of Jal Jeevan Mission till December 2028 with enhanced total outlay Page 1 of 3through budget announcements 2025-26. Accordingly, proposal for continuation of Jal Jeevan Mission till December 2028 is under consideration of the Department.

Since its launch, Jal Jeevan Mission is being implemented as a decentralized, demand-driven and community-managed programme, wherein the Gram Panchayat and/ or its sub-committee/ user group i.e. Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC)/ Pani Samiti are being empowered to plan, implement, manage, operate and maintain in-village water supply system to provide regular and assured tap water supply in rural households.

Under JJM, NGOs/ Community Based Organizations (CBOs)/ Self Help Groups (SHGs)/ Voluntary Organizations (VOs), etc. are also being empaneled as Implementation Support Agencies (ISAs) to handhold and train VWSCs/ Pani Samitis in planning, mobilizing and engaging communities, disseminating information and encouraging women participation for ensuring long-term maintenance of the water supply infrastructure.

Moreover, for enabling the local village community to play their role in planning, implementation and to shoulder the responsibility of operation and maintenance, Nal Jal Mitra Programme (NJMP) has been launched in collaboration with Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to equip them with a comprehensive set of skills & develop “Nal Jal Mitras”, so that they can function as scheme operators and are able to carry out minor repairs and maintenance, including preventive maintenance, of the piped water supply scheme(s) in their village as skilled masons, plumbers, fitters, electricians, motor mechanics, pump operators, etc.

To enhance transparency and promote Jan Bhagidari for sustainable and continuous service delivery, standardized “Handbook on Community-Managed Piped Water Systems” under Jal Arpan mandating a 15-day trial run involving GPs and VWSC members to ensure smooth handover and sustainable operations; district and Gram Panchayat dashboards have been launched and integrated with the Meri Panchayat platform for citizen feedback and grievance redressal and Jal Seva Ankalan has been initiated as a Gram Panchayat-led digital drinking water service functionality assessment tool.

Further, under JJM, States have been advised for source recharging, augmentation of local drinking water source(s), grey-water treatment & reuse; aquifer recharge, rain water harvesting, etc., in convergence with other schemes such as VB-G RAM G, Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), Finance Commission tied grants to Rural Local Bodies/ Panchayati Raj Institutes, State schemes, etc.

Under JJM, as per existing guidelines, Bureau of Indian Standards’ BIS:10500 standards are adopted as benchmark for quality of water being supplied through the piped water supply schemes. Moreover, under JJM, while planning water supply schemes to provide tap water supply to households, priority is given to habitations affected by chemical contaminants including Arsenic and Fluoride.

States/ UTs have been advised to plan and implement piped water supply schemes based on alternative safe water sources for the villages reported with water quality issues. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), States/ UTs have been advised to install community water purification plants (CWPPs) especially in Arsenic and Fluoride affected habitations to provide potable water to every household to meet their drinking and cooking requirements (to the tune of 8-10 litres Page 2 of 3per capita per day) till the commissioning of piped water supply schemes compliant to JJM standards. As reported by the States/ UTs on JJM-IMIS, as on date, all habitations in rural area of the country are provided safe drinking water free from Arsenic and Fluoride contamination.

Further, States/ UTs can utilize upto 2% of their annual allocation of funds under JJM for Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance (WQM&S) activities inter alia which includes setting up and strengthening of water quality testing laboratories, procurement of equipment, instruments, chemicals, glassware, consumables, hiring of skilled manpower, surveillance by community using field test kits (FTKs), awareness generation, educational programmes on water quality, accreditation/ recognition of laboratories, etc.

To enable States/ UTs to test water samples for water quality, and for sample collection, reporting, monitoring and surveillance of drinking water, an online JJM – Water Quality Management Information System (WQMIS) portal has been developed. The State–wise details of water quality test reported through WQMIS are available in public domain on JJM Dashboard

and can be accessed at:

https://ejalshakti.gov.in/WQMIS/Main/report A ‘Citizen Corner’ has also been developed on the JJM Dashboard. The corner included display of village level water quality test results in the public domain to further create awareness and build confidence among people about the quality of water supplies through the PWS in rural areas.

The Department released the "Handbook on Drinking Water Treatment Technologies" which was published in March 2023 and the "Concise Handbook for Monitoring Water Quality of Piped Drinking Water Supply to Rural Households" in December 2024. Both aim to guide field practitioners in effectively managing safe water supply system.

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