Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : The Ministry of Jal Shakti is in the process of assessing the progress made by all the States and Union Territories for achieving the goal of universal coverage under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the flagship programme of Union Government which aims to provide tap water connection to every rural household of the country by 2024.
In order to assess the progress of implementation, a mid-year review is underway through video conferencing. All States and UTs are presenting the status of the provision of tap water connection to rural households as well as the institutional mechanisms in place and the way forward to ensure universal coverage under JJM.
Sikkim presented their mid-term progress on October 21, 2020, to the National Jal Jeevan Mission. Sikkim has around 1.05 lakh households of which 70,525 (67%) households have tap water connections. The State has planned to provide 100% tap connections in all households by the year 2021-22. The State also has a good water supply infrastructure and has water supply schemes in 411 villages. The State plans to saturate all the SC/ ST dominated villages and villages in aspirational districts by year 2020-21. Out of the villages with Public Water System (PWS), only 81 have achieved the status ‘Har Ghar Jal’ Village. By providing 7,798 tap water connections, around 211 more villages will become 100% tap connections enabled, according to PIB release.
The issues like preparation of Village Action Plan, constitution of Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC) were highlighted at the meeting. Emphasis was given on engaging voluntary organisations, NGOs, women SHGs as implementation support agencies to handhold the local community for planning, implementation and operation & maintenance of water supply systems. The State was asked to organise training for capacity building of Gram Panchayat functionaries as well as other stakeholders and also to focus on skill development training in villages to create a pool of trained human resources at village level.
In 2020-21, Sikkim has been allocated Rs 31.36 Crore for implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission of which Rs 7.84 Crore has been released. To avail the second tranche of first release, the State has to expedite its fund utilisation. Sikkim has also been allocated Rs 42 Crore under 15th Finance Commission Grants to rural local bodies and 50% of it is to be used for water supply and sanitation i.e. water supply, grey-water treatment and re-use and most importantly for ensuring long-term operation and maintenance of water supply schemes.
Sikkim is known for its substantial water resources. But rapid population growth and urbanisation are affecting the water both in quantitative and qualitative ways.