Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 9: Despite the ambitious “Har Ghar Nal, Har Ghar Jal” mission aimed at providing piped drinking water to every rural household, significant gaps persist in Jammu and Kashmir, with over 18 percent of rural homes still lacking tap water connections, the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti informed the Rajya Sabha today.
Responding to an unstarred question raised by Rajya Sabha Member Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan regarding incomplete water supply projects and acute drinking water scarcity in remote regions such as Rajwar and Handwara, Minister of State for Jal Shakti V Somanna acknowledged implementation challenges but highlighted substantial progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
According to official data, when JJM was launched on August 15, 2019, only 5.75 lakh rural households in J&K-about 39.89 per cent-had access to tap water. Since then, nearly 9.89 lakh additional households have been covered. As of January 28, 2026, tap water connections have been provided to 15.64 lakh out of 19.26 lakh rural households, achieving coverage of 81.23 per cent.
Addressing concerns about Rajwar in Kupwara district, the Ministry stated that six water supply schemes have been undertaken under JJM to ease long-standing hardships. Several habitations that had never been connected to piped water-such as Check Saramarg, Minidora, Khanbal, Rajpora, Sikander Mohalla, Tand Mohalla, Chanjmulla, Laribal, Nagni Bala, Gujjar Patti and others-have reportedly received tap water access for the first time.
However, the Government conceded that delays and deficiencies have occurred due to multiple factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, poor tender responses, restrictions following August 2019, difficult terrain and climate, funding constraints, and delays in approving schemes stuck at initial planning stages.
To accelerate implementation, the Ministry said it has intensified monitoring through high-level review meetings with states and Union Territories, deployment of multidisciplinary teams, and district-level oversight. Meetings have been held with 729 District Magistrates and Collectors nationwide, including all districts of J&K, urging them to actively monitor progress through District Water and Sanitation Mission dashboards and resolve local bottlenecks.
The Government also noted that the Jal Jeevan Mission has been extended until 2028, as announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, to ensure completion of ongoing works and achieve universal rural water coverage.
While the Centre maintains that progress is on track, the figures presented in Parliament underline that thousands of rural families in J&K continue to wait for assured and reliable drinking water supply, keeping the spotlight firmly on last-mile delivery and accountability.
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