The government’s national initiative to give drinkable water to every rural household has gained momentum as eyes are turned toward the 2024 elections, with Goa becoming the first state to be certified under “Har Ghar Jal” with 100% coverage. At a cost of more than Rs 200 crore over the last three years, drinkable tap water connections have now been delivered to all 2.63 lakh households in both districts of the state.
With an investment of approximately Rs 512 crore over the last three years, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have taken the lead among UTs in certifying the availability of potable tap water to all 85,156 rural homes.
Har Ghar Jal mission was started in 2019
The government launched a nationwide mission in August 2019 with a 2024 completion date. The pandemic-related delay has been overcome, and the programme now has 52% coverage. Goa is another state where all water connections are metered.
Although they have announced 100% coverage, Haryana, Telangana, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Puducherry have not yet received certification. While other states like Himachal Pradesh (94.85%), Gujarat (97%), Bihar (95.49%), and Punjab (99.9%) are also getting closer to the goal. 13 large states, including Uttar Pradesh, which accounts for 95% of the remaining construction, are still waiting for the
project to pick up steam.
All governments now have until September 30 to award contracts for all outstanding tasks, according to the Center.
The department has also made it mandatory for the gram panchayats to ratify and pass a resolution once the target has been attained by the village in order to make the process transparent.
Additionally, videos of the gram sabha meetings must be taken and posted on the department web so that they can be certified.
Up to 1.5 lakh villages reported 100% coverage and are actively working toward certification. Vikas Sheel, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti and Mission Director, Jal Jeevan Mission, said it is important for more districts to come forward and complete the certification process so they can get the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ distinction. “We are encouraging state administration to come forward and get districts certified, hand holding them through the entire process,” he added.
