Govt Slashes Jal Jeevan Mission Budget by 46% – Here’s Why

Jal Shakti Ministry is facing a possible 46% cut in the Centre’s funding assistance against its demand for Rs 2.79 asked by the Jal Shakti Ministry for the extended phase of Jal Jeevan Mission for four years ending in December 2028. This move comes amid concerns that some states may have approved inflated work contracts for providing tap water connections to rural households under the Jal Jeevan Mission, reported The Indian Express.

The Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC), chaired by Expenditure Secretary and responsible for appraising projects valued over Rs 500 crore, has recommended releasing only Rs 1.51 lakh crore, creating a funding gap of over Rs 1.25 lakh crore. This shortfall may now have to be met by the states, as per The Indian Express. The EFC also proposed reducing the mission’s overall outlay by Rs 41,000 crore to Rs 8.69 lakh crore, against Rs 9.10 lakh crore sought by the Jal Shakti Ministry.

Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2019, the Jal Jeevan Mission aimed to provide tap connections to about 16 crore rural households by December 2024. However, only 75% of the target could be achieved over five years and the remaining 4 crore tap connections are now proposed to be installed by extending the mission by four years till December 31, 2028.

States Struggle with Implementation

According to a March 13 report by HT, a parliamentary standing committee, in a report tabled in both houses on March 11, flagged that at least 17 states continue to face “major constraints and problems” in implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission. These challenges include delayed project work, unreliable groundwater sources, water contamination and difficult terrain.

The same committee noted that 30.9 million households across India still lack piped infrastructure, with “more than 99.5% of such households are concentrated in 17 states and Union territories”, reported HT.

With persistent geological challenges compounded by a significant funding shortfall, the Jal Jeevan Mission's progress may not be entirely smooth.