Empowering Rural Communities: Six NE States, Including Assam, Commit to Tap Water Access by 2026
New Delhi, May 3: In a significant development, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura have committed to providing tap water connections to all rural households by March 2026. These six northeastern states are part of a larger group of 15 states and union territories that have pledged to the Union Jal Shakti Ministry to ensure access to safe drinking water for rural communities by next year.
According to a Jal Shakti Ministry official who spoke to The Assam Tribune, Assam has made notable progress, with 81.32 percent of its 72.25 lakh rural households—approximately 58.76 lakh—already supplied with tap water. The official confirmed that the Assam government is dedicated to connecting the remaining 13.49 lakh households by March 2024.
Manipur has similarly achieved substantial coverage, with about 79.59 percent of its 4.52 lakh rural households—3.59 lakh—receiving tap water. By March next year, an additional 0.92 lakh households are expected to have connections. In Meghalaya, around 81.76 percent of the 6.51 lakh rural households, totaling 5.32 lakh, have access to tap water, with plans to service the remaining 1.19 lakh households by the deadline.
Nagaland has also reported impressive figures: 92.69 percent of its 3.64 lakh rural households—3.37 lakh—are now connected to tap water. The state aims to provide connections for the remaining 0.27 lakh households by next March. Meanwhile, Tripura has delivered tap water to approximately 84.95 percent of its 7.51 lakh rural households, equating to around 6.38 lakh households.
The official noted that various challenges have hindered progress in delivering tap water connections across states. These include lengthy timelines for multivillage projects, geological issues affecting groundwater availability, and difficulties presented by difficult terrain, particularly in hilly areas. The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns also caused delays in obtaining clearances and matching state contributions.
The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), launched by the Centre on August 15, 2019, aims to provide tap water connections to rural households in collaboration with state governments. With a total project cost of Rs 3.60 lakh crore—of which the central government contributes Rs 2.08 lakh crore over five years—the initiative seeks to rectify rural water supply inequities. At the time of the JJM’s inception, only 17 percent of the nation’s rural households had access to tap water, equating to 3.23 crore families. Since then, approximately 12.19 crore rural families have been connected to tap water supplies, leading to a current coverage of about 79.81 percent—15.45 crore households out of 19.36 crore.
During her Budget speech for the fiscal year 2025-26, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the extension of the JJM until 2028, signifying the government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring clean drinking water for all rural citizens. This ambitious initiative not only aims to enhance living standards but also underscores the government’s resolve in addressing critical infrastructure issues across India, especially in the northeastern states.
This progress reflects a broader national effort to provide essential services and improve quality of life for rural populations while navigating obstacles that complicate implementation.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/north-east/six-ne-states-including-assam-vow-tap-water-for-all-rural-homes-by-2026-1576098
Category : Assam,North East,Featured
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Publish Date: 2025-05-03 11:32:00
