Jal Shakti Ministry eyes 2025 to complete tap water connections in rural India, achieve sanitation goals
The Hindu
Jal Shakti Ministry aims for 2025 targets of Jal Jeevan Mission, SBM-G, and Namami Gange for rural water, sanitation, and ecology.
The Jal Shakti Ministry has set its sights on 2025 to achieve the ambitious targets of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) after falling short of the 2024 deadline to provide tap water connections to all rural households.
The Ministry also aims to ensure universal Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus status for villages while advancing ecological restoration under the Namami Gange Programme.
Over 15.37 crore rural households out of a total of 19.36 crore have been equipped with tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission. However, around four crore households remain uncovered.
Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil expressed optimism about achieving full coverage, emphasising his Ministry's continuous coordination with lagging States and Union Territories.
"All the four crore connections are at some level of completion, and though it is a state subject, we have urged all states and Union territories to accelerate their efforts to ensure 100% coverage as soon as possible," Mr. Paatil told PTI.
Eleven States and Union Territories have already achieved complete rural tap water coverage. However, larger states like Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Kerala, and West Bengal are trailing with less than 60% coverage, according to official data.
A Ministry official said it is focused on bridging these gaps in 2025, ensuring no household is left without access to clean drinking water.
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