Implement Jal Jeevan Mission, Centre tells Arunachal Pradesh

ITANAGAR: The Centre has asked Arunachal Pradesh for expeditious implementation of the 'Jal Jeevan Mission' — a flagship programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi — that aims to improve the lives of rural people by providing safe drinking water to every rural household through household-tap connections by 2024.

Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a letter to Chief Minister Pema Khandu urged him to focus on retrofitting and augmentation of piped water supply schemes already existing in the villages and habitations, so that remaining households could be provided with tap connections easily in least possible time. Shekhawat also asked the Chief Minister to start the work in the 'Campaign mode'.

"During the COVID–19 pandemic, it is the endeavour of the government that people do not crowd public stand posts and drinking water sources," the Union Minister wrote, and requested the State government to take up water-supply works in villages on immediate basis to provide household tap connections, which would help in practising social distancing and would additionally help local people in getting employment and boost rural economy.

Stressing on the need for strengthening of existing drinking water sources for long-term sustainability of drinking water supply systems, Shekhawat called for the convergence of various programmes like MGNREGS, SBM (G), 15th FC Grants to PRIs, District Mineral Development Fund, CAMPA, Local Area Development Fund, at the village level for judicious use of all available funds.
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