Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil revealed that the Centre has inked a deal with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration as part of ‘Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0’ to bolster drinking water facilities in remote and island areas. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Andaman and Nicobar administration, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Har Ghar Jal’ initiative. This move signifies a crucial advancement towards ensuring secure, consistent, and sustainable drinking water services in remote and island regions.
The signing event witnessed the presence of Lieutenant Governor Admiral D.K. Joshi, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti V. Somanna, along with senior officials from both the ministry and the Union Territory administration. The agreement coincides with the expansion of the second phase of the Jal Jeevan Mission, focusing on long-term service delivery and sustainability rather than just infrastructure development. The Union Cabinet’s approval in March extended the Jal Jeevan Mission until December 2028, emphasizing reliable and safe drinking water supply, governance reforms, community involvement, and source sustainability measures like water conservation and rainwater harvesting.
Under the restructured mission, the Centre has been entering into reform-linked MoUs with States and Union Territories to enhance accountability, operation, and maintenance of rural water systems, and boost village-level engagement in water management. Notably, official data from the Jal Jeevan Mission portal highlights that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have achieved complete household tap water coverage through the mission, with over 62,000 rural households now having tap water connections, a significant increase from the 46% coverage at the program’s inception in 2019.
