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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3415
ANSWERED ON 12/03/2026
JAL JEEVAN MISSION IN WEST BENGAL
3415. SMT. PRATIMA MONDAL:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) the exact amount of the funds sanctioned, released and withheld for West Bengal under the Jal
Jeevan Mission;
(b) the manner in which delays are consistent with the stated goal of universal household tap
connectivity;
(c) the reasons for persistence of fluoride, arsenic and salinity contamination in several districts
of the said State including parts of eastern India despite repeated commitment; and
(d) whether the Government has assessed that funding slowdowns in States like West Bengal are
disproportionately affecting vulnerable rural and tribal populations and if so, the findings thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI V. SOMANNA)
(a) to (d) Since August 2019, Government of India, in partnership with States, is implementing
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)-Har Ghar Jal to enable every rural household including West Bengal, in
the country to have assured potable water through tap connection. 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 Jal Jeevan Mission, lies
with the respective State/UT Governments. The Government of India supports the States by
providing technical and financial assistance.
As reported by State Govt. of West Bengal, at the start of the Mission, in August 2019, only 2.15
Lakh (1.22%) rural household were reported to have tap water connection. As on 09.03.2026, out
of 1.75 crore rural household, around 99.50 lakh (56.69%) rural households have been provided
tap water connection in West Bengal.
The details of Central fund allocated, and fund drawn by the State of West Bengal under the Jal
Jeevan Mission (JJM), is as under:
Page 1 of 2(Amount in Rs. Crore)
Central share
Fund State
Year Opening Fund Available Reported
drawn by Expenditure
Balance allocated fund utilization
State
2019-20 760.82 995.33 994.75 1,755.57 609.00 469.54
2020-21 1,146.58 1,614.18 807.08 1,953.66 1,196.07 641.17
2021-22 757.58 6,998.97 1,404.61 2,162.19 1,547.52 725.77
2022-23 614.67 6,180.25 3,090.12 3,704.79 1,953.73 3,204.21
2023-24 1,751.06 3,806.29 4,206.29 5,957.35 5,004.16 5,155.11
2024-25 953.19 5,049.98 2,524.99 3,478.18 3,003.06 4,905.55
2025-26 475.13 - - 475.13 - -
Total 24,645.00 13,027.84 13,788.66 13,313.54 15,101.35
Source: JJM-IMIS
The Jal Jeevan Mission aims for universal rural tap connectivity, but execution rests with State
Governments. Central funds require timely project proposals and utilization certificates.
Consequently, administrative delays or slow execution at the state level directly hinder fund
releases, stalling the mission’s goal of providing every household with functional water.
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.
While planning water supply schemes under JJM to provide tap water supply to households,
priority is given to habitations affected by chemical contaminants. States/ UTs have been advised
to plan and implement piped water supply schemes based on alternative safe water sources for the
villages with water quality issues.
Further, under the 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 at the rate of 8–10 litre per capita per day (lpcd) to meet their drinking and
cooking requirements till the commissioning of piped water supply schemes compliant to JJM
standards. As reported by States on JJM-IMIS, as on date, all rural habitations of the country are
provided safe drinking water free from Arsenic and Fluoride contamination.
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