**Summary:**
This document summarizes the response provided by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3174 on August 7, 2025, regarding interdepartmental coordination for the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). The question addressed the assessment of interdepartmental coordination, potential delays caused by this coordination, pending overhead tank projects due to land unavailability, steps to simplify procedures, and the status of overhead tank construction in Karnataka, particularly in the Chikkaballapur district.
The response clarifies that drinking water supply schemes fall under the purview of State Governments, with the Government of India supplementing state efforts through technical and financial assistance via the JJM, initiated in August 2019. To address bottlenecks in securing clearances from central agencies like NHAI, Railways, Forest, and GAIL, the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation facilitates regular review meetings with States/UTs and the relevant central agencies.
Regarding overhead tank construction in Karnataka, the State Government reported that a total of 9637 overhead tanks have been constructed under JJM, including 306 in the Chikkaballapur district. The Minister of State for Jal Shakti providing the response was Shri V. Somanna.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Jal Shakti: A ministry of the Government of India.
Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation: A department under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): A Government of India mission to provide tap water supply to every rural household.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): An agency of the Government of India responsible for the development, maintenance and management of National Highways.
Karnataka: A state in India where overhead tanks are being constructed under the JJM.
Chikkaballapur district: A district in Karnataka where overhead tanks are being constructed under the JJM.
Shri V. Somanna: Minister of State for Jal Shakti.
GAIL: Gas Authority of India Limited, a government-owned natural gas processor and distributor.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3174
ANSWERED ON 07.08.2025
INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION FOR JJM
3174. DR. K SUDHAKAR:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has assessed inter-departmental coordination such as coordination
with local departments, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and others in the
implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether it is true that at times there is a huge delay in various inter-departmental coordination
leading to significant delay in implementing the mission and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is true that a large number of projects for the construction of overhead tanks under
JJM are pending due to non-availability of proper land by local authorities and if so, the details
thereof;
(d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to simplify the procedure in this regard; and
(e) the total number of overhead tanks constructed and under construction in Karnataka, especially
in Chikkaballapur district under JJM?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI V. SOMANNA)
(a) to (d) Drinking water is a State subject. The power to plan, design, approve and implement
drinking water supply schemes/ projects lies with State Government. Government of India
supplements the efforts of the States by providing technical and financial assistance. In order to
make provision of tap water supply to every rural household in the country the Government of
India, in partnership with States/UTs is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission, since August 2019.
To support States and UTs in securing necessary clearances from central agencies such as NHAI,
Railways, Forest, GAIL, etc., the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation facilitates the
process by convening regular review meetings with both States/ UTs and the concerned central
agencies to identify and resolve bottlenecks.
(e) As per the data reported by the State Government of Karnataka, total of 9637 overhead tanks
have been constructed under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Further, total 306 overhead tanks have been
constructed in the Chikkaballapur district under JJM.
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