GUWAHATI: More than 3.41 lakh families in Assam are without access to piped water at home as of February 1, despite having functional tap connections, according to Public Health Engineering (PHE) Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah who provided these figures in the state assembly on Tuesday.
Responding to a question from Congress MLA Asif Mohammad Nazar regarding the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Mallabaruah cited several reasons for the lack of water supply. These involve flood damage, pipeline breakage due to road expansion works executed by the Public Works Department (PWD) and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and electrical faults. Furthermore, dysfunctional schemes due to pump or motor breakdown after community takeover have also been impeding water supply.
The JJM aims to provide safe and adequate drinking water to all rural households in India through individual tap connections. Mallabaruah assured that all households in the state would receive piped water under JJM by 2028, following the Union government's extension of the mission's tenure.
Regarding the remuneration for ‘Jal Mitras’ responsible for operating and maintaining water supply infrastructure, the minister stated they currently earn Rs. 6,500 per month, with a total of 17,217 Jal Mitras in the state.
In Assam, 27,931 water supply schemes are being implemented under JJM. Kamrup district has the highest number of households—51,000—without water despite having installed tap connections, followed by Kamrup (M), Nagaon, Sonitpur and Barpeta districts.
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