ITANAGAR, June 3 - The Annual Action Plan of Arunachal Pradesh to achieve 100 per cent household tap connections in the State has been approved of by the National Jal Jeevan Mission under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The State has proposed to provide cent per cent tap connections to all households by March, 2023. The Centre has approved of Rs 255 crore for the State under the Jal Jeevan Mission in 2020-21, stated an official release here on Tuesday. Out of 2.18 lakh rural households, the State is planning to provide 77,000 tap connections in 2020-21. While planning, thrust is being given to cover households in the Aspirational district, quality-affected habitations, Sansad Adarsh Gramin Yojana villages, etc., on a priority basis.
Though water availability in Arunachal Pradesh is not an issue, the tough mountainous terrain, sparsely located habitations and harsh climatic conditions are hurdles in implementation of projects. However, the State Government has charted out a plan to cover all villages and habitations so that potable water reaches every rural household.
The State is also targeting the villages and habitations where piped water supply schemes already exist, so that the remaining households can be provided with tap connections easily. The State plans to immediately provide tap connections to all remaining households belonging to weaker sections of the society.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been the endeavour of the Government that people do not crowd the drinking water sources. The State has been advised to take up water supply works in villages to provide household tap connections, which will help in practising social distancing and getting employment for the local people.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the Jal Jeevan Mission on August 15, 2019 with the objective to provide functional household tap connections to every rural household of the country by 2024. Being implemented in partnership with States, the Mission aims to enable every rural household to get potable water at 55 litres per capita per day on a regular and long-term basis so as to bring improvement in the lives of rural folks.
Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, water quality testing laboratories at the district and State levels are being given priority.
