PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE, Dehradun
In Uttarakhand, out of the 16,555 projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission schemes, 15,540 projects have been completed. This information was shared during a review meeting led by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, where the progress of the Jal Jeevan Mission, its financial status, the operation and maintenance of schemes and the upcoming action plan were discussed at the Secretariat on Wednesday.
During the meeting, it was reported that the State’s average progress stands at 92.46 percent, with 1,015 projects currently in progress. Regarding tap water access for rural families, it was noted that 14.20 lakh out of 14.48 lakh families have been provided with tap water connections. Additionally, among 14,979 villages, tap water availability has been verified in 9,796 villages. Topics discussed included the progress of water supply schemes, verification and availability of tap water for rural families, water quality, financial management and the regular operation of these schemes.
CM emphasised the importance of achieving a 100 per cent water supply target for every household, ensuring that all eligible rural families receive tap connections within the stipulated time frame. He stated that the success of the Jal Jeevan Mission should not only be measured by the number of tap connections but also by the regular availability of adequate, safe and quality drinking water for every household. He also stressed the need for on-site verification of completed projects.
He further directed district magistrates to complete under-construction and pending drinking water projects promptly and to coordinate with relevant departments for effective problem resolution. He urged for regular reviews of the physical and financial progress of each project.
CM instructed officials concerned to focus on the conservation and revival of drinking water sources in mountainous areas, rainwater harvesting and the recharging of water sources. He called for the development of a system to address technical issues related to water supply in each district quickly and to ensure permanent arrangements for the operation and maintenance of schemes. He also directed the establishment of district-wise targets, timelines and accountability measures, holding the concerned executing agencies and responsible officers accountable for any unnecessary delays.
