Parliament Question: Inspection under Jal Jeevan Mission

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 163 ANSWERED ON 31/07/2025 INSPECTION UNDER JAL JEEVAN MISSION *163. SHRI RAJESH VERMA:

SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to State:

(a) the details of the key objectives and scope of inspection initiative undertaken by the Government under Jal Jeevan Mission;

(b) whether quality checks of water supply are included thereunder and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the names of the States identified for these inspections and the criteria adopted for their selection;

(d) whether the findings from the teams deputed for the purpose would be used to improve implementation strategies and address local challenges and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the manner in which the move reflects the Government’s commitment to ensure piped water supply to all rural households under the Har Ghar Jal initiative? ANSWER MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI (SHRI C R PATIL)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the table of the House. ***** Page 1 of 2Statement referred to in reply of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 163 for reply on 31.07.2025

(a) to (c) Government of India is committed to make provision for safe & potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality on a regular & long-term basis to all rural households in the country. Towards this end, the Government of India launched the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), to be implemented in partnership with States/ UTs, in August 2019. The significant progress has been made under the mission as in August 2019, only 3.23 crore (16.7%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections, while as on 28.07.2025, out of 19.36 crore rural households, more than 15.67 crore (80.96%) are reported to have tap water supply.

As part of the monitoring mechanism, regular field visits are conducted by National WASH Experts and NJJM officials across various States/ UTs. The objectives of these visits include verifying the on-ground implementation of JJM, engaging with state/ district-level officials as well as community members, and assessing the effectiveness of the program. Further, since April 2025, States/ UTs are also conducting monthly inspections of the JJM schemes identified by DDWS. The team constituted by the state conduct inspection of JJM schemes to see the quality of construction, adherence to timelines, availability of services, resolution of issues, etc. In addition, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India has also appointed Central Nodal Officers (CNOs) for the ground inspection of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) schemes across identified districts.

The criteria for selecting states for visits are based on several factors, including physical and financial progress of piped water supply schemes, completion status, functionality, references regarding irregularities, etc. Additionally, selection is also based on emerging priorities and the specific needs of the programme. This comprehensive approach ensures that resources are allocated efficiently and that programme implementation remains effective and transparent.

(d) and (e) Drinking Water is a state subject, and hence, 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. The observations from ground verification visits offer valuable insights that enable states to identify gaps in the implementation of the scheme and take corrective measures.

Hon’ble Finance Minister during budget speech 2025 announced the extension of JJM until 2028 with enhanced outlay for completing the remaining works under JJM by prioritizing the quality of infrastructure and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) of rural piped water supply schemes through “Jan Bhagidhari” to ensure sustainability and citizen-centric water service delivery.

***** Page 2 of 2