Parliament Question: Tap Water Connections under JJM in Himachal Pradesh

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6391 ANSWERED ON 02/04/2026 TAP WATER CONNECTIONS UNDER JJM IN HIMACHAL PRADESH †6391. SHRI SURESH KUMAR KASHYAP: Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) the total number of rural households provided with tap water connections across the country so far under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM); (b) the number of beneficiary households in Himachal Pradesh and other hilly and remote States, State-wise; (c) the number of households provided with tap water connections and the number of incomplete schemes under JJM in Shimla Lok Sabha Constituency of Himachal Pradesh; (d) whether additional costs arises in implementation of the scheme due to geographical difficulties in hilly and remote areas, particularly in Shimla Lok Sabha Constituency and if so, the details thereof; and (e) the details of the special financial or technical assistance being provided by the Government to ensure timely completion of such schemes? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA) (a) to (c) To enable every rural household in the country to have assured potable water, in adequate quantity of prescribed quality on regular and long-term basis, through tap water connection, since August 2019, Government of India in partnership with States/UTs including Himachal Pradesh, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal. At the start of the mission, only 3.23 crore (16.7%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by States/ UTs as on 03.03.2026, under JJM, more than 12.58 crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as on 03.03.2026, out of around 19.36 crore rural households in the country, around 15.82 crore (81.71%) households are reported to have tap water connections in their homes. Further, as reported by the State government of Himachal Pradesh on JJM IMIS, all 17.08 lakh rural households have been provided with tap water connections in their homes. The State/ UT-wise status of tap water connection provided under the mission in rural areas is in public domain and available on JJM dashboard at: https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjmreport/JJMIndia.aspx Page 1 of 2(d) and (e) 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. States have reported certain challenges in the implementation of JJM, which inter-alia includes geographical terrain, scattered rural habitations, lack of dependable drinking water sources in water- stressed, drought prone and desert areas, which may increase the cost of implementation of rural water supply schemes in these areas. To address these challenges, under JJM, States have been advised to adopt cost-effective and sustainable water supply systems that are easy to operate and maintain. These include gravity-based water supply systems and spring-based schemes. In cases where gravity-based sources are not available, decentralized groundwater or surface water-based pumping schemes may be adopted. Where terrain permits, high-efficiency pumps are recommended to lift water to elevated reservoirs, from which distribution networks can be designed. Further, the Government of India provides financial assistance to Himalayan and North-Eastern States, including Himachal Pradesh, under a 90:10 (Centre: State) funding pattern, along with continuous technical support to facilitate timely and effective implementation of the schemes. ***** Page 2 of 2