‘Additional demand behind delay in Jal Jeevan Mission’, Pg14

Context:

• The Union Jal Shakti Minister acknowledged that delays in the flagship Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) are due to newly added demand and technical challenges like inadequate groundwater availability. 

Key Highlights:

• Launched in 2019, the mission aimed to provide piped potable water to all 19 crore rural households by 2024.
• As of March 2024, about 80% of rural households (15.6 crore) had received piped water connections.
• Around 4 crore additional households were identified later, increasing the total coverage demand.
• Groundwater limitations in many regions necessitate a shift to surface water sources, requiring more infrastructure.
• The mission's target of 55 litres per capita per day of BIS-compliant water remains unchanged.

Detailed Insights:

• In February 2024, the mission was officially extended to 2028 with an enhanced budgetary outlay.
• The original estimate of 19.3 crore households remains unchanged on official platforms despite the addition of new households.
• Groundwater found to be inadequate or unsustainable in some regions, prompting the need for rivers, lakes, and surface water reservoirs.
• Surface water infrastructure is more capital-intensive, leading to delays and budget overruns.
• There have been execution flaws including errors by contractors, further contributing to the lag.
• From 2019 to 2024, the government has spent ₹3.6 lakh crore on the mission.
• Budget allocation for 2024–25 was ₹70,000 crore, but as of February, only ₹22,694 crore was utilised — indicating underutilisation of nearly ₹50,000 crore.
• Planned spending for 2025–26 is ₹67,000 crore, slightly lower than previous years.

Broader Implications:

• Delay in universal access to safe drinking water undermines rural health, sanitation, and gender equity.
• Persistent gaps affect public trust in flagship welfare programmes.
• Need for real-time monitoring and adaptive planning becomes evident amid emerging demands.
• Raises larger questions about federal coordination, state capacity, and hydrological planning in India.

Way Forward:

• Update baseline data to reflect real household coverage requirements.
• Implement GIS-based water source mapping and real-time dashboard monitoring.
• Build community-based water governance models for better local participation.
• Ensure strict quality checks and accountability for contractors and vendors.
• Develop region-specific water supply plans based on resource availability (ground vs surface).

Key Concepts Involved:

• Water budgeting: is the process of systematically accounting for all water inflows, outflows, and changes in storage within a defined area to ensure sustainable and efficient water use. 
• Hydrogeology:  is the scientific study of the occurrence, distribution, movement, and quality of groundwater beneath the Earth's surface, particularly in soil and rock formations known as aquifers. 

Mains Mock Question:

Q. Critically evaluate the progress and challenges of the Jal Jeevan Mission in delivering piped water to rural households. What reforms are needed to overcome infrastructural and ecological limitations?