The Jal Shakti Ministry aims to achieve the ambitious targets of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBMG) by 2025, following a shortfall in meeting the 2024 deadline for providing tap water connections to all rural households. The Ministry also seeks to ensure universal Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus status for villages while advancing ecological restoration under the Namami Gange Programme. Currently, over 15.37 crore rural households have tap water connections, leaving around four crore still uncovered. Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil expressed optimism about achieving full coverage, highlighting ongoing coordination with states and Union Territories. Eleven states and Union Territories have achieved complete rural tap water coverage, but larger states like Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Kerala, and West Bengal lag behind with less than 60% coverage. Sanitation remains a priority, with 95% of villages in India declaring themselves ODF Plus, which includes toilet construction and waste management. Of the country’s 5,86,707 villages, 5,60,897 have reached this status. The Ministry is confident that the remaining villages will achieve ODF Plus by 2025. Under the Namami Gange Programme, significant ecological progress has been made, including the reintroduction of gharials and turtles into the Ganga. The Ministry also aims to complete afforestation on 1,34,104 hectares within the Ganga basin by 2025 to enhance ecological balance.
Jal Shakti Ministry eyes 2025 to complete tap water connections in rural India, achieve sanitation goals
