The central government’s allocation to Tamil Nadu under its flagship initiative, the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide safe drinking water to all households, has jumped by more than 300 percent, from Rs 922 crore previous fiscal year to ₹ 3691.2 crores this fiscal year.
The mission, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019, aims at providing tap water to every household by 2024. Ministry of Jal Shakti has released ₹ 614.35 crores to the State as the first tranche.
Union Minister, Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat while approving this four-fold increase in the allocation has assured full assistance to the State for making provision of tap water supply in every rural home by 2024.
In a letter to Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin, Union Jal Shakthi minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stated, “As of now, 88.8 lakh homes in Tamil Nadu are to be provided tap water connections.” He also expressed concern over the pace at which the work is progressing.
He further said that out of the ₹ 921.99 crores Central funding allotted to Tamil Nadu for 2020-21, the state utilized just ₹ 544.51 crores and surrendered ₹ 377.48 crores earmarked for rural tap water supply.
He also expressed his optimism that the increased funding will allow the state to complete other planned initiatives under the Jal Jeevan Mission, such as providing tap water to every home in rural regions.
He reiterated the emphasis given by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi to provide tap water on priority to all households in water-scarce areas, quality-affected villages, Aspirational districts, SC/ST majority villages, and Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojna (SAGY) villages of Tamil Nadu. The State has been urged to cover all households in these villages/ areas in 2021-22 on a priority.
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.