Implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission reviewed in Karnataka

New Delhi, 13 July (H.S): union Minister, Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and B. S. Yediyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka jointly reviewed the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in Karnataka, today at Vidhan Sabha, Bengaluru. The Chief Minister assured the visiting union minister that the State will take all necessary steps to accelerate the pace of implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission and provide tap water supply to remaining 61.05 lakh households in Karnataka by 2023. The union Minister, Jal Shakti assured the Chief Minister that the Central government will provide all support to State to achieve ?Har Ghar Jal? target. It is with the aim to translate Prime Minister Narendra Modi?s vision of providing clean tap waterto every household in the country by 2024.

Under the leadership of the Chief Minister, the State will undertake intensive monthly review to provide assured tap water supply to every rural household in adequate quantity of prescribed quality on regular and long term basis. During the meeting, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Jal Jeevan Mission, Bharat Lal made a presentation highlighting the planning and implementation of the JJM in State. Later, he also had a detailed review meeting with the principal secretary and other senior State officials on speedy implementation of the mission in Karnataka. At the time of launch of Jal Jeevan Mission, out of a total of 91.19 lakh households, only 24.51 lakh (26.88%) households in Karnataka had tap water connections. In 22 months, 5.62 lakh households have been provided with tap water connections. As a result, now, 30.14 lakh households (33.05%) in villages of Karnataka have tap water supply.

To make Karnataka ?Har Ghar Jal? by 2023, the State has planned to provide tap water connections to 25.17 lakh households in 2021-22, 17.93 lakh tap water connections in 2022-23 and remaining 19.93 lakh tap water connections in 2023-24.

Keeping in view of the State?s firm resolve to ensure potable tap water supply to every home, union Minister, Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has approved Rs. 5,008.79 Crore as central grant under Jal Jeevan Mission, a four-fold increase than previous year?s central allocation. With this enhanced central allocation, opening balance of Rs 177.16 Crore, and State?s matching share of Rs 5,215.93 Crore, a total outlay of Rs 10,401.88 Crore under Jal Jeevan Mission is available for water supply work in the State for 2021-22. Thus, ensuring enough fund availability to accelerate the pace of implementation.

In 2021-22, Rs 1,426 Crore has been allocated to Karnataka as 15th FC tied grant for water & sanitation to Rural Local Bodies/ PRIs. There is an assured funding of Rs 7,524 Crore for the next five years i.e. up to 2025-26. This huge investment in rural areas of Karnataka, will accelerate economic activities and also boost rural economy. It will create new employment opportunities in villages.

Karanataka has done good work in providing tap water in schools, ashramshalas and anganwadi centres.At present 41,636 schools (99%) and 51,563 anganwadi centres (95%) have been provided water through taps. union Minister appreciated the work done by the state ofKarnatakawith respect to schools and anaganwadiandasked the State to ensure 100% tap connectivity in all the remaining learning centresat the earliest, for better health, improved sanitation and hygiene for children.