Jammu district lags behind others with only 66% coverage
Vikas Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 29: After the dismal performance in implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Central Government has once again extended the timeline for completing the project till December 2028.
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The decision follows persistent delays caused by the non-release of funds during the 2024–25 fiscal year, severely affecting the pace of work under this ambitious national programme.
The information was revealed by the Minister for Jal Shakti in response to a query raised in the Assembly, where concerns were expressed over the slow progress and incomplete water supply schemes across the Union Territory.
According to the Minister, all JJM schemes in Jammu and Kashmir were originally targeted for completion by March 31, 2025, but various financial and administrative hurdles, primarily the delay in fund disbursement under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) and Union Territory Sector (UTS) forced the authorities to revise the timeline.
“The Centre has now set December 2028 as the new deadline, along with enhanced allocations to ensure completion of all pending works. The Jal Shakti Department is actively pursuing the release of funds from both the Central and UT Governments,” the Minister stated.
He further informed that there remains a balance requirement of Rs 6,254 crore for completing all ongoing JJM schemes in the Union Territory.
“The department is working to secure these funds and settle work-done claims once the release process is finalized,” he added.
Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019, the Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide every rural household in India with safe and adequate drinking water through tap connections.
However, despite major investments and regular monitoring, the Mission has missed its original 2024 deadline, with several states and Union Territories still lagging behind in coverage.
Jammu and Kashmir is among the worst-performing UTs, with only 81% coverage achieved so far.
As per official data, out of 19,25,734 total rural households, only 15,63,302 households have been provided with Tap Water Connections (TWCs). This means nearly 19% of households in the UT are still waiting for access to piped drinking water.
While some districts have shown impressive progress, others continue to trail behind. Srinagar (10,401 households) and Ganderbal (41,551 households) have achieved 100% coverage, becoming models of effective implementation.
However, districts like Kathua, Samba, Rajouri and Jammu remain far behind the goal.
In Kathua, out of 1,39,436 households, only 74% have got the tap water connections.
Samba has managed to cover 69% of its 78,297 households, Rajouri stands at 67% with 1,35,612 households, while Jammu district lags further behind with only 66% coverage, the lowest in the Union Territory.
At the national level, 11 States and Union Territories including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Puducherry, Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Telangana, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat have already achieved 100% tap water connection coverage.
Additionally, Ladakh and Uttarakhand are close to the milestone, with more than 97% coverage.
Across India, the Mission has provided tap water connections to over 15.72 crore households, covering 81% of the total 19.36 crore households.
Officials said the extension till 2028 will provide the Jammu and Kashmir administration sufficient time to resolve funding issues, accelerate on-ground work and bring the UT at par with the national average.
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