Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Jal Shakti is reviewing the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), which aims to provide potable tap water to every rural household by August 2025. The review process involves regular consultations with States/UTs and third-party assessments. Challenges in implementation are being addressed through financial assistance, coordination with central agencies, and capacity building at the local level.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **JJM Implementation and Review:**
* The Government of India is implementing JJM in partnership with States/UTs since August 2019.
* The mission aims to provide potable tap water supply in adequate quantity and prescribed quality on a regular, long-term basis to every rural household, including those in coastal states.
* Regular reviews of JJM implementation are conducted with States/UTs through various forums.
* Third-party functionality assessments are conducted across States/UTs, and reports are shared for corrective measures.
* **Challenges in Implementation:**
* States have reported challenges, including:
* Lack of dependable drinking water sources.
* Geogenic contaminants in groundwater.
* Uneven geographical terrain and scattered habitations.
* Delays in state share release.
* Lack of technical capacity at local levels.
* Delays in obtaining statutory clearances.
* **Steps to Address Challenges:**
* Implementation of Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure.
* Nomination of a nodal officer for coordinating with central agencies.
* Setting up State and District Programme Management Units (SPMUs and DPMUs).
* Implementation of Nal Jal Mitra Programme for skilled local personnel.
* Emphasis on source recharging through various schemes.
* **Tap Water Connections in Odisha:**
* As of 15.08.2019, 3.11 lakh rural households in Odisha had tap water connections.
* As of 18.08.2025, 68.20 lakh out of 88.67 lakh rural households in Odisha have tap water supply.
* 65.09 additional households have been provided connections under JJM.
* **Specific Provisions for Coastal Areas:**
* Augmentation of services using energy-efficient small desalination plants.
* Construction of subsurface dykes in rivers to prevent seawater ingress and improve groundwater sources.
Impact Analysis:
* **States/Union Territories:**
* Impact: Required to implement JJM, address challenges, and expedite progress to achieve mission objectives.
* Action Required: Participate in review meetings, take corrective measures based on assessment reports, and ensure timely release of state share.
* **Rural Households:**
* Impact: Intended beneficiaries of JJM, expected to receive potable tap water supply.
* Action Required: Engage with local authorities and participate in the planning, management, and maintenance of water supply schemes.
* **Implementing Agencies, Gram Panchayats, and Local Communities:**
* Impact: Responsible for planning, managing, operating, and maintaining water supply schemes.
* Action Required: Develop technical capacity, obtain necessary clearances, and ensure effective implementation of JJM at the local level.
* **Central Government (Ministry of Jal Shakti):**
* Impact: Oversees the implementation of JJM, provides financial and technical assistance, and conducts reviews and assessments.
* Action Required: Continue to monitor progress, address challenges, and coordinate with states and other central agencies to ensure the successful implementation of JJM.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): A Government of India mission to provide potable tap water supply to every rural household.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The Indian government ministry responsible for water resources and sanitation.
Shri V. Somanna: Minister of State for Jal Shakti.
Odisha: A state in India where tap water connections under JJM are being implemented.
MGNREGS: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, used in convergence with JJM for water source recharging.
Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP): A program used in convergence with JJM for water source recharging.
Nal Jal Mitra Programme: A program for ensuring availability of skilled local persons at village level to bridge the gap in availability of technical skill sets and of HR for programme management.
Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure: A financial assistance program through Mo Finance for financial assistance as 50year interest free loan for capital investment projects.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4747
ANSWERED ON 21/08/2025
REVIEW OF IMPLEMENTATION OF JJM
†4747. DR. SAMBIT PATRA:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has conducted any study to review the implementation of the Jal
Jeevan Mission (JJM) and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether there is any proposal under consideration of the Government to constitute a special
task force to address the challenges being faced in the implementation of JJM and if so, the
details thereof;
(c) the details of the tap water connections provided under JJM in Odisha; and
(d) whether any specific provisions have been made by the Government for implementation of
JJM in coastal States and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI V. SOMANNA)
(a) Since August, 2019, Government of India, in partnership with States/ UTs, is implementing
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to make provision of potable tap water supply in adequate quantity,
of prescribed quality on regular & long-term basis to every rural household in the country
including those in the coastal states.
The Government of India regularly reviews the implementation JJM with States/UTs through
conferences, workshops, review meetings, field visits, and other forums. During these reviews,
States/UTs are advised to expedite the implementation of JJM to ensure objectives of the
missions are achieved. Further, as stipulated in the operational guidelines, the Government of
India also conducts third-party functionality assessments across States/UTs. The assessment
reports are shared with the respective States/UTs for taking necessary corrective measures,
wherever required.
(b) States have informed that lack of dependable drinking water sources in water-stressed,
drought prone and desert areas, presence of geo-genic contaminants in ground water, uneven
geographical terrain, scattered rural habitations, delay in release of the matching State share in
some States, lack of technical capacity with implementing agencies, Gram Panchayats and
local communities to plan, manage, operate & maintain the water supply schemes, delay in
obtaining statutory/ other clearances, etc. are few of problems being faced in the
implementation of the mission.
Page 1 of 2To address the challenges holistically, Government of India has taken a number of steps, inter
alia including implementation of Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure through
M/o Finance for financial assistance as 50-year interest free loan for capital investment
projects; nomination of a nodal officer in the Department for coordinating with Central nodal
Ministries/ Departments/ agencies to facilitate the states in obtaining statutory/ other
clearances; setting up of State Programme Management Units (SPMUs) and District
Programme Management Units (DPMUs) and implementation of “Nal Jal Mitra Programme”
for ensuring availability of skilled local persons at village level to bridge the gap in availability
of technical skill sets and of HR for programme management.
Under the Mission, States have also been advised for source recharging, viz. dedicated
borewell recharge structures, rainwater recharge, rejuvenation of existing water bodies, reuse
of greywater, etc.,in convergence with other schemes such as MGNREGS, Integrated
Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), 15th Finance Commission tied grants to RLBs/
PRIs, State schemes, CSR funds, etc. to ensure adequate water availability for rural water
supply schemes.
(c) As reported by the state of Odisha, at the start of JJM on 15.08.2019, only 3.11 lakh (3.51%)
rural households had tap water connections. Since then, around 65.09 additional rural
households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 18.08.2025,
out of 88.67 lakh rural households in the state, around 68.20 lakh (76.92%) households are
reported to have tap water supply in their homes.
(d) The specific provisions for coastal areas made under the operational guidelines for
implementation of JJM are as follows:
i.) In coastal areas, augmentation of services can be done with energy efficient small
desalination plants with high recovery ratio; and
ii.) In order to avoid the ingress of sea water, sub-surface dykes can be constructed in rivers
that can also improve the groundwater-based drinking water sources in the adjoining
areas. Funds under MGNREGS, State schemes can be utilized for this purpose.
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