The government on Tuesday (14 December) informed that nearly 50 per cent of the rural households in Uttarakhand are getting tap water supply in their homes.
According to a Jal Shakti Ministry release, in the past one month drinking water supply scheme worth Rs 549.60 crore for 706 villages spread across six districts benefitting 49,298 households have been approved for Uttarakhand.
“As on date, out of 15.18 lakh rural household in the State, 7.49 lakh (49.39 per cent) are getting tap water supply in their homes. In 2021-22, the State plans to provide tap water connections to 2.64 lakh household,” the ministry said.
The State-Level Scheme Sanctioning Committee (SLSSC) in Uttarakhand approved supply schemes of Rs 56.7 crore under Jal Jeevan Mission in its meeting held on 13 December 2021.
Under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), there is provision for constitution of State Level Scheme Sanctioning Committee (SLSSC) for consideration and approval of schemes to be taken up for making provision of tap water supply to rural households.
The SLSSC acts as a State level Committee to consider water supply schemes or projects, and a nominee of the National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM), Government of India is a member of the committee.
Of the five water supply schemes sanctioned by the SLSSC, two are single-village scheme and three are multi-village schemes. It will provide tap water connection to more than 6,800 rural households.
Under the JJM, the Centre has released Rs 360.95 Crore grant–in–aid to Uttarakhand during 2021-22.
“In 2019-20, Central Government had allocated Rs 170.53 crore for implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission. This year, the Union Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat allocated Rs 1,443.80 crore which is four-fold increase from last year,” the ministry said.
While approving the four-fold increase, the Jal Shakti Minister also assured full assistance to the state for making provision of tap water supply in every rural home by December 2022.
According to the ministry, at the time of launch of Jal Jeevan Mission on 15 August 2019, only 1.30 lakh (8.58 per cent) households in Uttarakhand had drinking water supply through taps.
“In 27 months, despite disruptions faced during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns, the state has provided tap water connection to 6.19 lakh (40.80 per cent) households,” the ministry said.