New Delhi: The Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat revealed that drinking water facilities have been extended to 72% of households across India. The Jal Jeevan Mission, initiated in 2019 with just over 16% of households having access to drinking water, has made significant progress, according to Singh.
Speaking to a group of journalists from Assam, the minister stressed that the responsibility for implementing the scheme lies with the state governments. Recognising diverse geographical challenges and variations in water resource availability from surplus to scarce, Singh informed about the collaborative efforts with state governments, where guidelines were formulated and adhered to during the mission’s implementation.
Singh expressed pride in achieving the 72% milestone and affirmed the commitment to achieving this target by December 2024.
Singh acknowledged that Rajasthan faced challenges in progressing with the drinking water supply to households since the scheme’s inception. However, he expressed optimism with the change in the state government, anticipating substantial progress by December 2024.
Addressing the issue of river interlinking, Singh mentioned former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s vision of creating a grid for transferring river water. He reported that over 15 Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been prepared and shared with states, with discussions underway for inter-basin transfers.
Singh highlighted the Rs 40,000 crore project linking the Ken and Betwa rivers, with agreements already shared by the Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh governments. Additionally, discussions for interlinking rivers between states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, as well as among some southern states, are ongoing.
