Ministry of Jal Shakti
Secretary, DDWS urges States to strengthen source sustainability, water quality surveillance and service delivery under JJM 2.0
प्रविष्टि तिथि: 07 OCT 2026 7:00PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, organised a regional review meeting of States and Union Territories under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore) today. The meeting was chaired by Shri Ashok K. K. Meena, Secretary, DDWS, in the presence of Shri Kamal Kishore Soan, Additional Secretary & Mission Director, National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM), and attended by senior officials from States and UTs. The meeting reviewed the progress of JJM 2.0 and discussed key reform measures relating to source sustainability, water quality surveillance, digital governance, community participation and long-term sustainability of rural water supply systems.
In his opening address, Shri Ashok K. K. Meena emphasised that Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 marks a significant shift from infrastructure creation to sustainable and accountable service delivery. He urged States and UTs to accelerate implementation of approved schemes and effectively utilise available resources while ensuring that investments are directed towards fully functional schemes delivering reliable drinking water services to rural households. Stressing the importance of outcomes-based implementation, he underlined that expenditure must be translated into functional infrastructure supported by complete source-to-household connectivity, robust digital records and effective monitoring systems.
Secretary Shri Meena highlighted that Jal Jeevan Mission has transformed rural drinking water access across the country, with more than 15.96 crore rural households now having tap water connections compared to only 3.27 crore households at the time of the Mission’s launch in August 2019. He noted that the focus of JJM 2.0 is on sustaining these gains through source sustainability, financial and operational efficiency, water quality assurance and citizen-centric service delivery.
Shri Meena called upon States to expedite implementation of both single-village and multi-village water supply schemes, particularly in quality-affected areas, and ensure timely utilisation of available resources. Referring to the decisions taken during recent sectoral deliberations on water governance, he urged States and UTs to establish effective mechanisms for monitoring and implementing agreed reform measures to further strengthen service delivery under JJM 2.0.
Highlighting findings emerging from Jal Seva Adhayan, he observed that pipeline leakages and breakages continue to be the leading cause of water supply disruptions, followed by power cuts and low-voltage related challenges. He emphasised the need for States to adopt both immediate and long-term solutions to improve the reliability of rural water supply systems and ensure uninterrupted drinking water services to rural households.
The Secretary further underscored the importance of exploring renewable energy solutions for rural drinking water infrastructure. He informed that discussions are underway with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to examine the solarisation of drinking water assets across the country. He noted that innovative approaches leveraging solar energy can reduce operational costs, improve service reliability and strengthen the long-term sustainability of rural drinking water systems.
Addressing the participants, Shri Kamal Kishore Soan, AS&MD, NJJM, highlighted the importance of addressing operational challenges affecting rural water supply schemes. Referring to findings emerging from Jal Seva Adhayan and related assessments, he noted that low voltage and poor power quality continue to impact service delivery in several areas. He emphasised that reducing power-related costs can significantly improve operational sustainability and urged States and UTs to work collectively towards identifying practical solutions for improving energy efficiency and reducing recurring operation and maintenance expenditure.
Prof. Gopal Naik, JJM Professor Chair, IIM Bangalore, presented a study titled “Power Cost Optimization in JJM Scheme”. The study examined various energy configurations for rural water supply systems, including grid-based and solar-powered models, and assessed their implications on operational and life-cycle costs. The presentation highlighted opportunities for reducing recurring operation and maintenance expenditure, improving affordability of water services and enhancing the financial sustainability of rural water supply schemes through innovative energy solutions.
The programme also featured presentations on research related to drinking water quality monitoring and management using Water Quality Management Information System (WQMIS) data. The findings indicated significant improvements in drinking water quality compliance across several parameters following implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission and highlighted opportunities for strengthening laboratory ecosystems, independent surveillance mechanisms and community-led water quality management.
During the discussions, Secretary, DDWS emphasised the importance of establishing independent water quality surveillance mechanisms to strengthen transparency and accountability in rural water supply systems. He underscored the need to make water quality information available to Gram Panchayats and communities and highlighted the role of Gram Sabhas in reviewing water quality findings and identifying remedial measures. He noted that community participation and data-driven decision-making will be critical for improving long-term service delivery outcomes under JJM 2.0.
During the review meeting, States and UTs also discussed progress on key JJM 2.0 priorities, including State Implementation Plans, financial reconciliation, Har Ghar Jal certification in PM-JANMAN villages, Jal Arpan, digital governance initiatives and water quality management. The meeting concluded with States and UTs sharing progress, challenges and best practices and reaffirming their commitment to advancing the Mission’s vision of sustainable water security through cooperative federalism, technology-enabled governance and Jan Bhagidari.
In his concluding remarks, Shri Kamal Kishore Soan, AS&MD, NJJM urged State/UTs to accelerate implementation of key reform initiatives under JJM 2.0. Referring to Jal Arpan, the formal handing over of schemes to GP and VWSC he emphasised the need to complete in all Har Ghar Jal villages and ensure generation of certificates in the approved regional languages.
Shri Soan further called upon State/UTs to expedite water quality testing, particularly in Anganwadi Centres and other public institutions and ensure timely uploading of test results on the designated digital platforms. He urged to operationalise the O&M Manual at the Gram Panchayat level, actively utilise the Decision Support System (DSS) for source sustainability planning and monitoring, and strengthen coordination with Panchayati Raj Institutions for effective management of rural water supply systems. He also emphasised timely submission of inputs on DSS, completion of capacity-building activities, adherence to Finance Commission compliance requirements and preparation of clear implementation plans for achieving JJM 2.0 reform milestones.
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