In a high-level meeting held on Monday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reviewed the progress made in the Jal Jeevan Mission and Namami Gange project, expressing his determination to ensure that every household in the Vindhya-Bundelkhand region has access to tap water by August, 2023.
Under the Har Ghar Nal-Har Ghar Jal campaign, a significant endeavour is underway to provide clean drinking water to 2.65 crore rural families in the state. Prior to the commencement of the Jal Jeevan Mission, only 5.16 lakh families had access to pure drinking water through taps.
“Through continuous efforts, the dream of getting clean drinking water has become a reality for over 1.30 crore families, with 59.38 lakh tap connections provided in the financial year 2022-23 alone. The remaining households will be connected to piped drinking water in a time-bound manner,” the chief minister said.
The installation of tap connections has significantly accelerated since April 2022. From 22,714 connections per month, the number has reached 12.96 lakh connections per month as of May 2023. Presently, 43,000 tap connections are being installed daily and the chief minister has called for this figure to be increased to 50,000 connections per day. The prime minister has set a target of completing the Jal Jeevan Mission by March 2024, making it imperative to provide tap water to every household in the state by that time.
Acknowledging the vital role of Uttar Pradesh in the success of national schemes like the Jal Jeevan Mission, Chief Minister Yogi emphasised the state’s responsibility in ensuring their effective implementation. He assured that there is no shortage of funds for the mission and stressed the need to augment the workforce as per requirements. To expedite the process, trained plumbers will be deployed in every village and unnecessary delays will be avoided.
Mahoba is set to become the first district in the state to have tap water facilities in every household, fulfilling the long-standing dream of the Bundelkhand and Vindhya regions.
The chief minister asked officials to work diligently and accomplish the target of providing tap water connections to every house in Jhansi, Lalitpur, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Banda, Chitrakoot, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra and the entire Vindhya-Bundelkhand region within the next two months.
“The progress of the mission in the state has been significant, with work underway in 91,919 out of 98,445 villages. The completion of work in all villages within the stipulated time frame is a priority,” the chief minister said. Additionally, the chief minister stressed the importance of promoting rainwater harvesting in rural areas, which could serve as a model for the rest of the country.
To ensure the timely supply of piped drinking water to the Vindhya-Bundelkhand region, the chief minister emphasised the need to expedite the provision of electricity connections. The chief minister also highlighted the need for desilting reservoirs as they play a crucial role in water supply in Bundelkhand.
Transparency is paramount in the verification of 100 per cent saturated villages through the Jal Jeevan Mission. The chief minister emphasised the importance of meeting the expectations of every consumer and strengthening the system of on-site inspections. He stressed the need for cleanliness and transparency throughout the process and highlighted the significance of ensuring good water quality alongside water supply.
Various measures were outlined to ensure the functional efficiency of sewage treatment plants (STPs) across the state. The chief minister instructed relevant authorities to make non-compliant or non-functional STPs operational without delay. Additionally, the public’s cooperation in maintaining river cleanliness was highlighted, urging people to cremate or bury bodies instead of immersing them in rivers.