New Delhi, May 13 (IANS): Jammu & Kashmir plans to provide tap water connections to all rural households by December 2022 under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). During the current year, the Union Territory is planning for 100 per cent coverage of all 5,000 villages of three districts such as Ganderbal, Srinagar and Reasi, the Ministry of Jal Shakti said in a statement.
Presenting their action plan to the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation on Tuesday for achieving the goal of every household with tap water supply under the JJM, J&K officials said there are 18.17 lakh households in the region, out of which 5.75 lakh are already provided with Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs).
Out of the remaining households, J&K has planned to provide 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 and it is eligible for additional allocation based on physical and financial performance.
The J&K administration is planning 100 per cent coverage by December 2022 ahead of national goal by 2024-25, the Jal Shakti Ministry said. By doing so, the ministry said, 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 for a National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditation of 10 labs during 2021, it said. "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 the constitution of Village Water and 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 finalised.
During this testing time of Covid-19 pandemic, the ministry said such attempts to provide household tap connections in rural areas will definitely improve the ease of living especially for women and girls, reducing their drudgery, making them safe and lead a dignified life.
The aim of JJM is to provide every rural household in the country a FHTC for drinking water in adequate quantities of prescribed quality on a regular and long-term basis at affordable service delivery charges leading to improvement in their living standards.
It is an endeavour of the central government to provide tap connections in rural households on priority basis during the prevailing Covid-19 situation, so that rural people don't have to go through the hardship of fetching water from public standposts and stand in long queues.