Himachal qualifies for Rs 221-crore incentive under water scheme

Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service
NEW DELHI, MARCH 30

The state of Himachal Pradesh has qualified for “performance incentive grant” of Rs 221 crore for 2020-21 under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – “Har Ghar Jal”- from the Centre.

Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat rated Himachal as a high performer state at a review meeting to assess the performance of states in the implementation of JJM. Consequently, the Ministry approved the incentive fund to the state.

Provision has been made under the JJM for release of additional fund to states as “reward for performing states” as per allocation criteria out of the savings at fag end of the financial year.

The JJM is under implementation in partnership with states since 15 August, 2019. The mission aims at providing household tap water connection to every rural home in the country by 2024.

The mission was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In the current financial year, Himachal Pradesh was allocated an amount of Rs 326.20 crore and the entire amount was drawn by the state on account of excellent physical progress.

The state plans 100 per cent coverage of tap water connection in its rural areas of by August, 2022 ahead of national goal of 2024.

“By doing so, Himachal Pradesh will be one of the leading states to accomplish the ambitious target of providing tap water connection to every rural household,” Jal Shakti Ministry said.

The state has 17 lakh rural households, out of which as on date, 12.95 lakh (76 percent) are getting tap water supply.

In 2020-21, the state has provided 3.73 lakh household tap water connections against the annual target of 2.44 lakh.

Every household in 8,346 villages of the state is getting tap water supply.

Three districts namely Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti and Una have become 100 percent ‘Har Ghar Jal’ districts.

Nationally, since the announcement of Jal Jeevan Mission, 3.98 crore households have been provided with tap water connections so far, increasing the tap water supply from 3.23 crore (17 per cent) to 7.21 crore (37.6.per cent) rural households in the country.

Presently, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa and Telangana have become ‘Har Ghar Jal’ states/ UT and every household in 55 districts and 85,000 villages of the country have tap water supply.