Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, May 13: Jammu and Kashmir has planned to provide tap water connection to all rural households by December, 2022, under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
During the current year, the Union Territory is planning for 100 percent coverage of all 5,000 villages of 3 districts i.e. Gandharbal, Srinagar and Reasi.
Presenting their action plan to the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation yesterday for achieving the goal of every household with tap water supply under the JJM, UT officials said there are 18.17 lakh households in the UT, out of which 5.75 lakhs are already provided with Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs). Out of the remaining households, J&K has planned to provide tap water to 1.76 lakh households by 2020-21.
The UT is likely to get Rs 680 crore as Central share under JJM for this financial year. The UT is eligible for additional allocation based on physical and financial performance. The UT administration is planning 100 percent coverage by December, 2022 ahead of national goal by 2024-25.
By doing so, J&K will be a leading example to accomplish the ambitious target of providing tap connection to each rural household.
Out of 98 water testing laboratories, the UT has planned NABL accreditation of 10 labs during current year. Field Testing Kits will be provided at community level for testing of water quality for taking corrective measures. The UT administration has planned to provide drinking water to all 4 quality-affected habitations. Stress is being given on constitution of Village Water & Sanitation Committees in villages to mobilize the community to inculcate the sense of ownership. Village Action Plans have been carried out for villages, based on which the action plan has been finalized.
The aim of ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ (JJM) is to provide every rural household in the country a FHTC for drinking water in adequate quantity of prescribed quality on regular and long-term basis at affordable service delivery charges leading to improvement in their living standards. It’s the endeavour of the Central Government to provide tap connections in rural households on priority basis during prevailing COVID-19 situation, so that rural people don’t have to go through the hardship of fetching water from public stand-posts and stand in long queue.
Advisories have been issued to States/ UTs to take up works related to drinking water on priority so as to achieve the twin objective of providing tap connections to rural households as well as creating job opportunities for local people and migrant workers.
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