Parliament Question: Safe drinking water coverage under JJM in Maharashtra

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2629 ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026 SAFE DRINKING WATER COVERAGE UNDER JJM IN MAHARASHTRA 2629 Dr. Medha Vishram Kulkarni: Will the Minister of Jal Shakti be pleased to state: (a) the current status of Functional Household Tap Connections provided under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in rural and urban areas of the State of Maharashtra, including Pune division, (b) whether any implementation challenges or delays have been reported in the State, if so, the details thereof; (c) the steps taken to ensure safe and sustainable drinking water supply to every rural household; and (d) the timeline for achieving full coverage in the remaining habitations? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA) (a) to (d) Government of India, in partnership with States/UTs including Maharashtra is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission, since August, 2019, to make provision of tap water supply to every rural household in the country. 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. Significant progress has been made in the country since the launch of Jal Jeevan Mission, towards enhancing access to tap water to rural households. At the start of Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019, only 3.23 crore (16.72%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by States/UTs, more than 12.58 crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 13.03.2026, out of 19.36 crore rural households in the country, more than 15.82 crore (81.74%) households are reported to have tap water connections in their homes. (Source: JJM- IMIS) Similarly, at the start of Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019, only 48.43 lakh (33.00%) rural Page 1 of 2households were reported to have tap water connections in Maharashtra. So far, as reported by State, more than 84.34 lakh additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 13.03.2026, out of 146.77 lakh rural households in the State, more than 132.78 lakh (90.47%) households are reported to have tap water connections in their homes (Source: JJM-IMIS). The State will saturate the remaining households as per their saturation plan. The details of tap connection in urban areas is not maintained by this department. A few of the major challenges being faced by the States in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission are listed as under: i.) Lack of dependable drinking water sources in water-stressed areas, ii.) Presence of geo-genic contaminants in ground water, iii.) Uneven geographical terrain, scattered rural habitations, iv.) Lack of capacity of the local village communities to manage and operate in-village water supply infrastructure. Further, delay in release of matching State share in few States has also challenged the progress of the Mission. Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of water resources are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments. Under JJM, provisions have been made for drinking water source development/ strengthening/ augmentation; and infrastructure for bulk transfer of water, treatment and distribution systems in water deficit drought-prone and desert areas without dependable ground water sources, apart from creation of in-village water supply infrastructure. To achieve drinking water security, every village has to prepare a 5-year Village Action Plan under Jal Jeevan Mission which inter alia includes augmentation and strengthening of drinking water sources to be taken up in convergence with other schemes at village level viz. 15thFinance Commission tied grants to Rural Local Bodies (RLBs)/ PRIs, Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), State schemes, District Mineral Development Fund, CSR funds, community contribution, etc. ***** Page 2 of 2