Jal Shakti Ministry adds new dimension to JJM though sensor-based IoT devices

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 2 

Adding a new dimension to its flagship Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), The Union Jal Shakti Ministry has introduced sensor-based Internet of Things (IoT) devices to monitor the implementation of its flagship programme in more than six lakh villages.

“This would not only allow effective monitoring and management on-ground but also enable real-time visibility to state water supply/ PHED officials and citizens,” a Jal Shakti Ministry official said.

National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM) in collaboration with Tata Community Initiatives Trust (TCIT) and Tata Trusts recently completed pilot projects in several remote villages of five States, namely Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra.

A key feature of these pilots has been the use of frugal yet sturdy sensors, which makes the solution scalable and sustainable.

“Majority of the vendors, including manufacturers, are Indian players, thereby giving a boost to Government’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat programme.”

These pilots were spread across diverse agro-climatic conditions - including areas in the western Himalayas, desert regions to Gangetic plains (spanning extreme cold of -100C to severe heat of 480C.

They cover different types of sources including groundwater based borewells, springs in hilly areas, and surface water (river and dams).

Several types of sensors have been deployed including flow meters, groundwater level sensors, chlorine analyzers, pressure sensors, pump controller to measure all the relevant aspects of water service delivery – quantity, duration, quality, pressure, and sustainability – in addition to providing operational efficiencies.

The pilots have led to several outcomes as it has helped identify distribution issues – such as outages, leakages, low pressure, etc. and led to resolution across sites.

Several states, including Gujarat, Bihar, Haryana, and Arunachal Pradesh, have already rolled out tenders for IoT-based remote monitoring systems ranging from 500 villages to several districts.

Further, states like Sikkim, Manipur, Goa, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand have started the process to roll out this technology.

JJM aims to provide assured piped drinking water to every rural household across the country by 2024.