**Executive Summary**
The Government of India, in partnership with the state of Odisha, is implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to provide tap water to every rural household. Odisha faces challenges with groundwater depletion and water contamination. The State Government of Odisha is taking corrective measures to address these challenges, monitor water supply, and expedite pending approvals.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) Implementation:**
* Implemented since August 2019, by Government of India in partnership with States/UTs including Odisha.
* Aims to provide tap water supply to every rural household.
* ‘Drinking Water’ is a state subject; State/UT Governments are responsible for planning, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes.
* Government of India supports states by providing technical and financial assistance.
* **Drinking Water Supply Issues in Odisha:**
* Monitored continuously across the state.
* Chronic drinking water shortages due to groundwater depletion.
* Contaminated water sources, including iron, fluoride, salinity, and bacteriological impurities.
* Affected districts include Naupada, Bargarh, Mayurbhanj and parts of Gajapati.
* **Corrective Measures by Odisha Government:**
* Surface water based mega piped water supply schemes.
* Single-village and multi-village piped water supply projects.
* Solar-based Piped Water Supply projects and installation of Solar Dual Pump, Iron Removal Plants (IRPs), De-fluoridation plant.
* Source sustainability measures, including construction of recharge structures, restoration of water bodies, and rainwater harvesting.
* Creation of institutional mechanisms such as committees headed by senior officials.
* Monthly district-level coordination meetings to resolve pending approvals.
* Imposition of penalties on defaulting agencies.
* Strengthening monitoring mechanisms.
* Community awareness programs on water handling and strengthening Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSCs).
* Prioritizing completion of ongoing water supply schemes.
* Provision of temporary arrangements such as repair of defunct tube wells.
* **Delays in Multi-Village Piped Water Supply Schemes:**
* 705 schemes delayed due to land acquisition issues.
* Contractor non-performance.
* ROW clearance delays from various departments.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Government of Odisha:**
* **Impact**: Primarily responsible for the planning, implementation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including those under the JJM. They are also responsible for taking corrective measures to address water quality issues.
* **Action Required**: Monitor drinking water supply, expedite approvals, impose penalties on defaulting agencies, and implement water supply schemes.
**Rural Households in Odisha:**
* **Impact**: Aims to provide tap water supply to every rural household.
* **Action Required**: Participate in community awareness programs on safe water handling practices.
**Contractors:**
* **Impact**: Involved in the construction and implementation of water supply schemes.
* **Action Required**: Improve performance and address any issues causing delays.
**Various Departments (NH, NHAI, R&B, RD, Forest, Railways):**
* **Impact**: Responsible for providing ROW clearances for water supply schemes.
* **Action Required**: Expedite ROW clearances to avoid delays in project implementation.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): A Government of India scheme implemented in partnership with States/UTs to provide tap water supply to every rural household.
Odisha: Indian state facing challenges in drinking water supply and groundwater recharge.
Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department (PR&DW): The department of Government of Odisha responsible for taking up initiatives to address drinking water challenges.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The Indian government ministry under which the Jal Jeevan Mission falls.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
PERSISTENT DRINKING WATER DISTRESS AND
FAILURE OF GROUNDWATER RECHARGE IN
ODISHA
प्रव तथ: 01 DEC 2025 4:30PM by PIB Delhi
Since August 2019, Government of India is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), in partnership with
States/UTs including Odisha, to make provision of tap water supply to every rural household of the
country. ‘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
JJM, lies with State/UT Governments. The Government of India supports the states by providing
technical and financial assistance.
As informed by state government of Odisha, drinking water supply situation is monitored continuously
across the state. Based on the field assessments and records, certain blocks in Odisha have been identified
as facing chronic drinking water shortages due to groundwater depletion and contaminated water sources,
including iron, fluoride, salinity, and bacteriological impurities. To address these challenges and ensure
safe and adequate drinking water to all affected habitations, the Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water
Department (PR&DW), Government of Odisha, has taken up multiple initiatives such as surface water
based mega piped water supply schemes, single-village and multi-village piped water supply projects,
Solar-based Piped Water Supply projects and installation of Solar Dual Pump, Iron Removal Plants (IRPs)
and De-fluoridation plant in different districts of Odisha. Furthermore, source sustainability measures such
as construction of recharge structures, restoration of water bodies and rain water harvesting are also
undertaken in collaboration with other departments to ensure adequate and safe drinking water availability
during the summer period.
As informed by State Government of Odisha, a total of 705 multi-village piped water supply schemes in
Odisha has been delayed due to several factors such as land acquisition issues, contractor non-
performance, delay in ROW clearances from various departments such as NH, NHAI, R&B, RD, Forest,
Railways. The state government has taken several corrective measures. These include the creation of
appropriate institutional mechanisms, such as a committee headed by the Development Commissioner-
cum-Additional Chief Secretary with Secretaries of stakeholder Departments as members, and another
Committee headed by the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, PR & DW Department with the Engineers-in-
Chief of all Infrastructure Departments as members. In addition, district-level coordination meetings are
being conducted on a monthly basis under the Chairmanship of the District Collector to resolve pending
approvals and issues expeditiously. The State Government has also initiated the imposition of penalties on
defaulting agencies and strengthening monitoring mechanisms to expedite progress.
As informed by state government of Odisha, drinking water quality issues relating to fluoride, iron,
salinity and bacteriological contamination have been observed in certain habitations of districts including
Naupada, Bargarh, Mayurbhanj and parts of Gajapati. The State Government has taken several corrective
and preventive measures to address these issues such as:i. Installation of iron removal plants (IRPs), de-fluoridation plants and regular disinfection of water
sources.
ii. Surface water based mega piped water supply schemes, single-village and multi-village piped water
supply projects, Solar-based Piped Water Supply projects and Solar Dual Pump projects are being
implemented under various ongoing programmes to ensure long-term sustainable and safe drinking
water supply, especially in areas with critically contaminated groundwater sources.
iii. Regularly organizing community awareness programmes on safe water handling practices, and
strengthening Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) to support water quality
surveillance through the use of Field Test Kits (FTKs).
The special measures have been planned by state government to address recurring water scarcity in
vulnerable regions. These include prioritized completion of ongoing surface water-based mega piped
water supply schemes/single/multi village piped water supply schemes and provision of temporary
arrangements such as repair of defunct tube wells/ non-functional piped water supply projects and
installation of new tube well against defunct tube well.
The information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI V. SOMANNA
in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
***
AMK/ND
(Rajya Sabha US Q95)
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