New Delhi: The Union government on Monday signed reform-linked Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the State of West Bengal and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands under the Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, marking a major step towards community-driven rural water governance and universal tap water access.
The agreements were signed during separate meetings held in the presence of Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil, Minister of State for Jal Shakti V. Somanna, and senior officials of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS).
The reform-linked framework aims to strengthen Gram Panchayat-led water management systems with a focus on transparency, accountability, and community participation under the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
For the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the MoU was signed between Joint Secretary (Water), DDWS, Swati Meena Naik, and Secretary-cum-Commissioner of the Union Territory administration, Dr Sachin Shinde. The agreement was exchanged in New Delhi in the virtual presence of Lieutenant Governor D. K. Joshi and Chief Secretary Dr Chandra Bhushan Kumar, according to an official statement.
The Union Territory administration highlighted that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands had achieved 100% rural tap water coverage in 2021 and had already implemented decentralised pilot projects under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, including a model initiative in Sippighat Gram Panchayat.
Officials also stated that the Union Territory had successfully utilised allocated funds across 40 completed rural water projects.
The MoU with West Bengal was signed at the Chief Minister’s Office in the presence of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal, and senior state officials. The agreement was signed between DDWS Joint Secretary Swati Meena Naik and Principal Secretary of the Public Health Engineering Department Narayan Swaroop Nigam.
Addressing the meetings, C. R. Patil said Jal Jeevan Mission had evolved into a people-centric movement under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a focus on dignity, health, and empowerment in rural India.
The Union minister said the original deadline of May 2024 for the mission had been extended till December 2028 to ensure 100% tap water coverage and sanitation across the country.
Patil praised the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for becoming one of the early achievers of complete rural tap water coverage and obtaining Har Ghar Jal certification across all blocks.
He also directed the Union Territory administration to complete financial reconciliation of ongoing schemes to maintain transparency in project implementation.
During discussions with West Bengal officials, Patil urged the state government to speed up the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 and conduct immediate physical reviews in districts such as Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Purulia, which have historically lagged in water infrastructure development.
He also called for stronger implementation of Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari and the Karmabhoomi se Matrubhoomi campaign to encourage public participation.
The minister stressed that village-level operation and maintenance of water infrastructure, daily management and water tariff collection should be legally transferred to Village Water and Sanitation Committees under the new framework.
