Jal Jeevan Mission, a flagship program launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 15th August, 2019, is aimed to provide Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household by the year 2024. J&K has also targeted to achieve this objective by covering all its 18.70 lakh rural households with tap water connections capable of supplying water in adequate quantity (>55 lpcd) and of prescribed quality (confirming to BIS 10500) on a long term and sustainable basis, within the Mission period. Some of the important achievements made under the Mission are as under:
With the saturation of 14.11 lakh out of 18.70 lakh rural households with Tap Water Connections, Jammu & Kashmir crosses 75% coverage under Jal Jeevan Mission and enters into ‘High Achievers’ category at National Level.
Creation of Infrastructure: A huge infrastructure in the shapeof about 1253 Dug-well/ Bore-well/ Tube-well sources, 463 Over Head Tanks, 438 Rapid Sand Filtration Plants, 1020 Slow Sand Filtration Plants besides thousands of Ground Service Reservoirs, Lift Stations and Pipe distribution works is being created, at an estimated cost of Rs. 12975.00 Crore, under 3346 water supply schemes planned under the Mission.
Out of such 6590 work components involved in these schemes, 6416 (97%) have been allotted and 5747 (87%) works have been started as well.
Pani Samitis:6630 Pani Samitis – sub-committees of Gram panchayat,have been constituted covering all the villages of the UTwho are actively participating in planning, implementing and monitoring of Mission activities in their respective villages.
Water Quality Testing Laboratories: For an effective monitoring system of quality of water being supplied to the public, a network of 98 laboratories, at UT, District and Sub Divisional level have been strengthened/ established. 10 District laboratories have been accredited with NABL and the accreditation of remaining 10 district laboratories and02UT level laboratoriesis in the final stage.
For Water Quality Surveillance by the community itself, about 7500 Field Testing Kits (FTKs) have been distributed among the Pani Samitis. More than 33000 women have been trained for use of Field-Testing Kits in checking the quality of water and reporting the results online through WQMIS portal.
Transparency & accountability: In order to ensure the transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Mission:
A robust monitoring mechanism through District Level Project Management Units (DPMUs), Third Party Inspecting Agencies (TPIAs), UT Level team of Experts/ Consultants and Pani Samitis besides District Jal Jeevan Missions headed by the respective District Development Commissioners have been established in addition to the routine monitoring by the PHED engineers.
Procurement of all works and materials is being done through competitive e-tendering system only.
Process of ‘Har Ghar Jal Certification’ by Gram Panchayat has been put in place to ensure ownership, transparency and awareness, about the work done and the household connections provided in the village.
Every tap water connection provided is uploaded on the IMIS portal of JJM with Aadhar linkage of the beneficiary.
The scheme details, FHTC details, physical progress and the financial progress of JJM are available in public domain on the IMIS portal/ dashboard of JJM.
Irrigation and Flood Control Sector Jammu/Kashmir:
Tawi Barrage Project, envisaging creation of an artificial lake to enhance tourism potential of Jammu has been recommenced after 08 years. Project execution now is in full swing and likely to be completed during the current Financial Year, at a cost of Rs. 64.80 Cr.
During year 2022-23, the desilting and other repair works of major canals of Jammu province was completed in record time of 59 days and all major canals were recharged on 7th March 2023 one month prior to the earlier practice of execution of these works in more than three months’ (period from January to 13th of April on the Eve of Baisakhi).
Comprehensive Flood management of river Jehlum and its tributaries (Phase II) is going on at a project cost of Rs. 1623.43 crore. This includes priority work on Hokersar at a cost of Rs. 28.50 crore, aimed at reclaiming and preserving wetlands is expected to be completed during the current financial year.
Other Initiatives:
Improved Human resource Management: Regularization of 1969 officers at various levels from Assistant Engineers to Superintending Engineers, fast tracking of departmental enquiries and placement of right officers at right places on the basis of performance and requirements resulted in efficient work culture.
No departmental execution of works, instead, 100% compliance to GFR and procurement of works and Goods only through e-tendering.
Project Management: time bound completion of projects by proper resource planning, timely payments to the agencies, intensive monitoring by leveraging technology, community involvement and hiring of consultants at UT and District level.
Digital Initiatives like on-line billing, obtaining of water connections, NOC for Ground Water Extraction and grievance redressal system have been initiated as an effort to ensure ‘ease of living’.
