Nagaland asked to accelerate implementation of tap water connection scheme

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 8 (EMN): The government of India on Friday updated that out of 1.47 lakh tap water connections planned in 2021-22, Nagaland has provided the facility to only 48,000 so far.

This was revealed during the mid-term review meeting on planning and implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Nagaland held virtually on Friday, wherein officials from the state also attended.

The Ministry of Jal Shakti urged the state to expedite planning and implementation of the scheme at the earliest.

Providing further status on tap water supply in rural homes, it informed that about 1 lakh households (26%) out of total 3.85 lakh rural HHs (households) in Nagaland with tap water connections is 99,419 (25.78%).

Since the announcement of JJM, over 85,000 tap connections have been provided in the last 25 months. Further, 98% schools and 39% AWCs (anganwadis) have piped water supply, it informed.

The state was also asked to prioritised Aspirational district (Kiphire), to start work in all remaining villages at the earliest, saturate AWCs, fast-track approvals required, expedite WQ testing, IEC and capacity building activities, and upload Har Ghar lal certificates.

Earlier in May this year, the Centre had announced the release of INR 1605 crore to eight north-eastern states, including Nagaland for implementation of JJM in the financial year 2021-22.

Towards this, the Ministry of Jal Shaksti updated that INR 111.20 crore had been released to Nagaland out of the total INR 444.81 crore allocation for the state under the scheme.

Jal Jeevan Mission is a flagship programme of the Government of India to provide Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household of the country by 2024. It aims to improve the lives of rural people by providing safe drinking water to every rural home through household tap connections.