Punjab gets Rs 402 cr for water scheme

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 7

The Union Government has released a grant of Rs 402 crore to Punjab under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).

“With a focus to expedite the implementation of the JJM in Punjab, the Government of India released Rs 402.24 crore to the state,” the Union Jal Shakti Ministry said on Tuesday.

Central funds amounting to Rs 1,656.39 crore have been allocated to the state for 2021-22 for the implementation of the JJM, which is nearly four times the allocation for 2020-21.

As sum of Rs 616 crore has been allocated to the state as the 15th Finance Commission grant for water and sanitation to rural local bodies/panchayati raj institutions and there is an assured funding of Rs 3,246 crore over the next five years i.e. up to 2025-26 to the rural local bodies.

The JJM is a flagship project of the Centre, aimed at providing piped drinking water to every rural household in the country.

It is anchored by the Union Jal Shakti Ministry and implemented by it in coordination with the states/UTs.

Punjab has informed the ministry it plans to provide tap water connections to 8.69 lakh rural households in 2021-22. It has set a target of “Har ghar jal” (water for every household) by 2022.

Supply status

34.41 lakh Rural households in state

31.55 lakh Have tap water connection