SHILLONG: More than 5.2 lakh rural households in Meghalaya have been provided with functional household tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
Governor CH Vijayashankar, while addressing the Assembly on Friday, highlighted the remarkable progress made by the state in recent years. He stated that Meghalaya's coverage has surged from a mere 0.72% in 2019 to 81% by January 2025, surpassing the national average.
The governor further informed that 4,024 villages have achieved 100% household tap water connections, earning the status of ‘Har Ghar Jal’ villages. In response to the drying up of water sources due to climate change, the government is taking steps to rejuvenate these sources and create more reservoirs, the governor added.
To ensure the quality of water supply, the state has set up its first NABL-accredited state-level water quality testing laboratory at district and sub-divisional levels. Additionally, large water supply schemes are being implemented in key areas, including Shillong, New Shillong, Williamnagar, Nongstoin, Ampati, and Tura.
Meanwhile, earlier last year, Public Health Engineering (PHE) Minister Marcuise N. Marak had announced on December 10 that Meghalaya was geo-tagging over 6,000 water sources as part of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). The initiative aimed to safeguard critical water sources and ensure better monitoring of the JJM scheme’s implementation.
The Minister had revealed that last year, 749 critical water sources were identified, and the state government was employing Internet of Things (IoT) technology to monitor these essential sources. Geo-tagging had enabled real-time alerts for maintenance, ensuring sustainable water supply. The Minister had stated, “The government has decided to geo-tag all water sources. Without geo-tagging, we won’t receive funding from the Government of India. Over 6,000 projects are being geo-tagged to enhance accountability and preservation.”