Shillong, Aug 18 (IANS) Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday reviewed the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in the state and assessed preparations for the programme’s second phase, identifying 322 villages that need focused intervention to improve the reliability of household water supply.
Sangma chaired the review meeting with senior officials of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department and the JJM Meghalaya team, with discussions centred on the actual functioning of household tap connections rather than relying solely on reported coverage figures.
The assessment presented during the meeting showed that 87.32 per cent of villages in the state receive regular water supply, while 79.23 per cent have access to water daily. However, only 71.74 per cent of villages met the required adequacy standards, highlighting gaps in both the quantity and reliability of water supplied to households.
“We have identified 322 villages requiring focused attention,” Sangma said in a post on X after the review meeting. He added that the government is committed to ensuring that household tap connections under the mission translate into actual, dependable water supply.
The review examined the factors responsible for non-functional tap connections and assessed the challenges affecting the operation of existing water supply schemes. Officials also discussed a State Improvement Plan to address the identified shortcomings. The plan will include measures to repair and retrofit existing infrastructure, meet operation and maintenance (O&M) requirements, and ensure the long-term sustainability of water supply schemes.
The latest review followed an earlier assessment of JJM implementation in Meghalaya. Officials examined the status of household tap connections across different blocks and districts to assess actual water availability and identify areas needing improvement.
Sangma emphasised that the objective should not be limited to providing tap connections, but to ensuring the infrastructure remains functional and delivers water consistently.
The state government is preparing for Jal Jeevan 2.0, or Phase II of the mission, with greater emphasis expected on sustainability, service delivery and the long-term functionality of rural water supply systems.
The Meghalaya government has been working to expand access to piped drinking water in rural areas under the Jal Jeevan Mission, while addressing challenges related to difficult terrain, infrastructure maintenance and regular water availability. Identifying 322 villages is expected to help the government prioritise interventions and strengthen household water supply ahead of the next phase of the programme.
–IANS
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