Leh: The administration of Ladakh has achieved milestone by providing safe drinking water to 36 percent households in the union territory post August 2019 under National Jal Jeevan Mission.
“The administration of the Ladakh has expedited work and provided tap water connections to 14,978 households so far under Jal Jeevan Mission. Out of total, 13,564 households get tap water connections post August, 5 2019 after the bifurcation of Ladakh as Union Territory,” credible sources told IndusDispatch.
Divulging more information, the sources said that out of total 23,393 households in district Leh, 8,384 (36 percent) have access to tap water connections.
Similarly, they said that out of total 19,295 households in district Kargil, 6,594 (36 percent) have access to tap water connections.
They added that with these connections, 100 percent households in 21 villages across the Union Territory are being provided to safe drinking water.
“Work in progress in 211 villages will be completed in stipulated time frame,” they said.
Earlier, Commissioner Secretary, Ladakh, Ajeet Kumar Sahu reiterated that JJM is not a scheme but a “People’s Movement” wherein community participation is the key.
He had expressed his pleasure on the fact that Ladakh strongly believes in “community participation” and that no major complaint has been registered regarding the implementation of the scheme so far.
“Every household gets timely good-quality tap water supply under the Jal Jeevan Mission, even during winters, with the help of solar panels,” a villager said.
Another villager thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the water supply.
“In our village now we are getting tap water supply under Jal Jeevan Mission. I am thankful to the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this. Earlier, we had no access to tap water but today because of the government every household is getting water. We are very happy that in winters also we are getting water,” said a villager.
A villager said that because of the Centre’s Jal Jeevan Mission, the village has immensely benefited.
“There was water scarcity in Phey village. Now, because of the central sponsored Jal Jeevan Mission, our village is greatly benefited. Earlier, there was no pipeline for water supply. Now we have dug up to get water. We have to provision for lifting water–solar power and electricity. As of now, we are using solar power to lift and supply water. This is on a trial basis,” he said.
Working in line with ‘SabkaSath, SabkaVikas, SabkaVishwas and SabkaPrayas’, Jal Jeevan Mission’s motto is ‘no one is left out’ and it aims at universal access to the potable tap water supply.
At the start of the mission in 2019, out of a total of 19.20 Crore rural households in the country, only 3.23 Crore (17 per cent) had tap water supply.
During the last 28 months, despite Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns disruptions, Jal Jeevan Mission has been implemented with speed and today, 5.50 Crore rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Presently, 8.74 Crore (45.5 per cent) rural households across the country have tap water supply.
The states of Goa, Telangana, Haryana and UTs of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Puducherry, D&NH and D&D have ensured 100 household tap connections in rural areas. At present, every household in 84 districts and more than 1.30 lakh villages are receiving tap water supply in their homes.
