Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Jan 7: Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced today that drinking water facilities have reached 72 percent of households in India, and the remaining households will be covered by December 2024. The minister highlighted that the Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in 2019, started with only 16 percent of households having access to drinking water facilities.
Singh emphasized that the implementation of the scheme is the responsibility of state governments, and each state faces different challenges due to geographical variations and water resource availability, ranging from surplus to scarce.
Despite the obstacles posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Union minister stated with pride that drinking water facilities have reached 72 percent of households in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a commitment to provide drinking water facilities to every household, and this goal will be achieved by December 2024.
Singh expressed optimism about Rajasthan’s progress in providing drinking water supply to households since the change in state government. He expects significant progress by December 2024.
Regarding the interlinking of rivers, the Union minister mentioned that many states in India face either flood problems or drought conditions. Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had envisioned linking rivers and creating a grid for the transfer of river water. A committee has been formed to study the feasibility of inter-basin transfer, enabling water transfer from areas with surplus to areas facing a deficit.
The Union minister shared that over 15 Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been prepared and shared with various states to facilitate agreements for interlinking rivers. He also mentioned that the Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh governments have submitted an agreement for linking the Ken and Betwa rivers, and work on this Rs 40,000 crore project will begin soon.
Discussions are also underway regarding other potential river links, such as between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, as well as between southern states. Singh expressed hope that the states involved will reach an agreement for the successful implementation of these projects.
In conclusion, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat provided updates on the progress made in providing drinking water facilities to households across India. He expressed confidence in achieving the goal of universal access to drinking water by December 2024 and highlighted the ongoing efforts to interlink rivers for efficient water management.
