Delay in tenders hampering Jal Jeevan Mission projects: Min

Rajasthan's efforts to provide tap water connections to rural households under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) have been significantly delayed due to a sluggish tendering process.

- HT Correspondent

JAIPUR:

Several key JJM works, approved by the state level scheme sanctioning committee (SLSSC), remain stalled as the state struggles to finalize tenders.

These delays in the tendering process have severely hindered the timely roll-out of crucial projects, further pushing back the state's goal of ensuring piped water access for all rural households.

In reply to a question raised by Jhalawar MP Dhushyant Singh, minister of state for Jal Shakti V Somanna informed the Lok Sabha that since August 2019, the Centre is implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), in partnership with states/UTs including Rajasthan, to make provision of tap water supply to every rural household of the country.

"Drinking Water" is a state subject, and hence, the responsibility of planning, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including those under the JJM, lies with state/UT governments.

The government of India supports the states by providing technical and financial assistance.

Somanna said that as reported by the state government of Rajasthan on Jal Jeevan Mission-Integrated Management Information System (JJM-IMIS), on August 15, 2019, only 116,800 (10.84%) rural households had tap water connections.

Since then, around 480,000 additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM.

Thus, as on 11.02.2025, out of 10.7 million rural households in the state, provision of tap water supply is available to approximately 596,800 (55.39%) rural households, he added.