New Delhi, June 2: A significant step was taken on Tuesday towards providing clean drinking water to every rural household in Jharkhand. An agreement was signed between the Jharkhand government and the Ministry of Jal Shakti of the central government under the ‘Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0’ during an event held in New Delhi.
The event was attended by Union Minister of Jal Shakti, C.R. Patil, Jharkhand’s Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation, Yogendra Prasad, and senior officials from both the central and state governments. Chief Minister Hemant Soren joined the event via video conferencing.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Soren urged the central government to release the pending amount of approximately ₹6,500 crore for the Jal Jeevan Mission. He stated that since 2019-20, various drinking water projects worth ₹24,635 crore have been underway in Jharkhand, including multi-village and single-village schemes. He noted that 55% of the projects have been completed, while only 46% of the approved grants from the center have been received.
The Chief Minister expressed concern that insufficient funds have been released for the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26. He emphasized that timely financial support is crucial to maintain the momentum of the projects.
He also mentioned that delays in obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from various central departments and agencies are hindering the timely completion of drinking water projects. The state government has requested to expedite this process.
Highlighting the efforts made under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Chief Minister noted that the state government has appointed water sahiyas in villages to operate the single-village scheme, offering them a monthly honorarium of ₹2,500. He requested the center’s support for the sustainable operation of this initiative and stressed the need to include all essential components in future Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).
In response to the state government’s requests, Union Minister C.R. Patil clarified the central government’s position. He stated that the central government will not provide separate financial assistance for retrofitting and regular operation and maintenance of water supply schemes. He suggested that the state government utilize the grants available to Panchayati Raj institutions under the 16th Finance Commission for such activities. The central minister also emphasized the importance of effective implementation of the schemes and achieving the set targets within the stipulated timelines.
Leave a Comment