Shimla, July 8: Himachal Pradesh has accomplished a significant milestone by becoming the first hilly state in India to provide tap water connections to every rural household. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that all 17.08 lakh rural families in the state now have access to tap water.
The achievement comes as part of the Jal Jeevan Mission, which was launched on August 15, 2019, with the goal of providing household tap connections to all households across the country by 2024.
Himachal Pradesh has emerged as one of the top nine states in the country in terms of drinking water supply. As per the mission’s provisions, each person is now entitled to 55 liters of clean drinking water per day through tap connections.
The state has also received additional incentives from the central government for its efficient assessment and superior performance in maintaining drinking water quality.
Chief Minister Sukhu highlighted that the State Level Scheme Sanctioning Committee has approved 1,742 schemes with an estimated amount of Rs 5,757.79 crore. These schemes were implemented in drought-prone areas, tribal regions, aspirational districts, and Sansad Adarsh Gram Panchayats.
To ensure water quality, 69 laboratories have been established in the state, along with field test kits distributed to each village for regular water testing.
The Jal Shakti Vibhag has also trained 14,200 youths through skill development centers, aiming to provide employment opportunities and support the maintenance and management of drinking water schemes. Students in relevant fields are being trained and given a monthly stipend of Rs 5,000.
Furthermore, 49 rural drinking water schemes have been handed over to gram panchayats for operation and maintenance. Training has been provided to 28,600 panchayat representatives and 22,562 Village Water and Sanitation Committee members for effective management.
The Jal Shakti Vibhag remains vigilant in tackling challenges such as silt deposition, pipeline leakage, and other obstacles to ensure uninterrupted water supply. Back-end schemes worth approximately Rs 1,000 crore are being implemented to stabilize and maintain the quality and quantity of water supply.
The state is actively promoting rainwater conservation, introducing solar energy-based schemes for power supply, and developing anti-freeze technology under the Jal Jeevan Mission to ensure continuous water supply in snow-bound areas. Efforts are also being made to revive and conserve natural water sources such as bawdies and springs.
The accomplishment of achieving 100% household water supply ahead of schedule under the Jal Jeevan Mission marks a significant milestone in the state’s progress and prosperity.
