**Executive Summary**
The document is an answer to a parliamentary question regarding the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Kerala, answered on January 29, 2026. It details the progress of providing tap water connections to rural households in Kerala under the JJM, comparing it to the national average. The mission has been extended until 2028.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **JJM Implementation:**
* The Government of India is implementing JJM in partnership with states/UTs, including Kerala, since August 2019.
* The goal is to provide safe and adequate tap water connections to every rural household.
* **Progress in Kerala:**
* As of August 15, 2019, 16.64 lakh (23.51%) rural households in Kerala had tap water connections.
* As of January 27, 2026, 38.81 lakh (54.83%) rural households have tap water connections.
* The national average of rural households with tap water connections is 81.56%.
* **Challenges:**
* The Kerala state government reported the implementation pace slowed due to a lack of funds.
* Other factors causing delay include the COVID-19 pandemic, land acquisition delays, permission issues, and natural disasters.
* **Government Support:**
* The Government of India provides technical and financial assistance to states for JJM implementation.
* The government is undertaking high-level reviews and sending teams to address implementation challenges.
* A nodal officer has been assigned to facilitate states in obtaining clearances.
* 729 District Collectors, including those from Kerala, have been engaged to review implementation at the district level.
* **Financial Details:**
* The document includes a table with year-wise details of central fund allocation, funds drawn, and fund utilization reported by Kerala under JJM.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Government of Kerala**
* **Impact:** Responsible for planning, approving, implementing, operating, and maintaining drinking water supply schemes. Implementation pace is slower than the national average.
* **Action Required:** Address issues causing delays, such as funding shortages and permission bottlenecks.
**Rural Households in Kerala**
* **Impact:** Aims to provide safe and adequate tap water connections.
* **Action Required:** Benefit from the JJM by receiving tap water connections.
**District Collectors/District Magistrates/ Collectors**
* **Impact:** Urged to play a leadership role in monitoring progress.
* **Action Required:** Address bottlenecks and prioritize coverage in critical areas through the DWSM dashboard.
**Central Government of India**
* **Impact:** Accountable for providing technical and financial assistance to the state.
* **Action Required:** Continue to support Kerala in achieving JJM goals.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): A Government of India initiative to provide safe and adequate tap water connections to every rural household, also known as 'Har Ghar Jal'.
Kerala: Indian state where the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is being discussed.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The Indian government ministry responsible for water resources and sanitation, overseeing the JJM initiative.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. – 121
ANSWERED ON 29/01/2026
IMPLEMENTATION OF JJM IN KERALA
121. ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
in Kerala has been halted due to insufficient funds and if so, the details thereof along with
the reasons therefor;
(b) the present status of completion of projects under JJM in Kerala including the details of
the projects sanctioned, the percentage of works completed and the funds released and
utilised as on date;
(c) whether Kerala is behind the national average in terms of completion of works and funds
utilisation under JJM; and
(d) if so, whether any directive has been given to the State Government of Kerala to speed up
the works and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI V. SOMANNA)
(a) to (d) Since August 2019, Government of India is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
– Har Ghar Jal, in partnership with States/ UTs including Kerala, to make provision of safe
and adequate tap water connection to every rural household of the country.
As reported by the state of Kerala on JJM-IMIS, at the start of JJM on 15.08.2019, only
16.64 lakh (23.51%) rural households had tap water connections. Since then, around 22.17
lakh additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as
on 27.01.2026, out of 70.77 lakh rural households in state, the provision of tap water
connections is available to 38.81 lakh (54.83%) rural households as compared to the
national average of 81.56%.
The state government of Kerala has informed that the pace of implementation of JJM
works has slowed down due to paucity of funds. There are also other factors reported by
state which has caused delay in JJM implementation such as the outbreak of the COVID-
19 pandemic, delays in obtaining hindrance-free land, issues related to permissions for
road cutting and seasonal bans, delays in obtaining clearances from other agencies, and
disruptions caused by floods and heavy rainfall.
Page 1 of 2Drinking Water being a state subject, the responsibility of planning, approval,
implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including
those under the JJM, lies with State/UT Governments. The Government of India supports
the States by providing technical and financial assistance. Numerous projects are
implemented concurrently at various levels across the States for achieving the envisaged
objectives. As such, project-wise details of individual projects/ schemes for rural water
supply projects are maintained at the level of state Government. The year-wise details of
central fund allocated, fund drawn and fund utilization reported by the State of Kerala,
under JJM, is as under:
(Amount in Rs. Crore)
Central Expenditure
under State
Financial Opening Fund Fund Available Reported share
Year Balance allocated Drawn Fund utilization
2019-20 2.58 248.76 101.29 103.87 62.69 57.23
2020-21 41.18 404.24 303.18 344.36 304.29 311.25
2021-22 40.07 1,804.59 1,353.44 1,393.51 957.44 1,059.57
2022-23 436.08 2,206.54 2,206.54 2,642.62 1,741.93 1,741.68
2023-24 900.69 1,342.36 671.18 1,571.87 1,465.41 1,448.53
2024-25 106.45 1,949.36 974.68 1,081.13 1,081.13 1,403.70
Source: JJM-IMIS
To expedite the provision of tap water connections to all rural households in the country
including those in Kerala, concerted efforts have been made to accelerate the pace of
implementation of JJM on ground. These include measures such as holding high level joint
review meetings with the state governments on regular basis and visits of multi-
disciplinary teams from the department to highlight areas which need attention for
expediting implementation to make provision of tap water supply to all households in a
time bound manner. A nodal officer in the Department has been nominated for
coordinating with Central nodal Ministries/ Departments/ agencies to facilitate the states
in obtaining statutory/ other clearances. The department has also held meetings with 729
District Collectors/District Magistrates/ Collectors across the country, including all from
Kerala, to review various aspects of the implementation of the JJM at the district level.
DMs/ DCs/ Collectors have been urged to play a leadership role in monitoring progress of
JJM through the District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM) dashboard and
addressing the bottlenecks to ensure effective implementation of JJM. They have further
been advised to prioritize coverage in critical areas such as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal
Group (PVTG) habitations, Aspirational Districts, drought-prone regions, and other
identified priority areas.
To complete the ongoing works, Hon'ble Finance Minister during her budget speech 2025-
26 announced extension of Jal Jeevan Mission until 2028.
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