55 litres of water per capita per day: Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Contrary to people's assumption that they will get access to unlimited water supply under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the State Government today made it clear that under JJM, potable water will be supplied in adequate quantity i.e. 55 litres of water per capita per day at a nominal charge.

The Opposition today created an uproar in the House during a debate on JJM. Opposition MLAs said that work for implementation of the scheme was not progressing as smoothly as claimed by the government. They alleged that low-quality water pipes had been installed in some places while in some places, the water being supplied was of poor quality. They also alleged corruption while awarding contracts for JJM works.

In his reply, State Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass said, "The Assam Government's target is to provide tap water supply to 63 lakh households by March 2024. So far, 23 lakh households have been provided tap water connections and some now have access to tap water supply.

"There are three independent agencies to inspect the quality of water before it is supplied to the households. In addition, there are another three independent agencies to monitor the work being done for implementation of the scheme before payment is made to the contractors."

The minister said that people were assuming that they would get access to an unlimited water supply under this scheme. "However, this is not so. The goal of JJM is to provide functional household tap connections (FHTC) to every household with service level at the rate of 55 litres water per capita per day. For the smooth functioning of the scheme, user committees have been constituted at the panchayat level. The user committees will charge a nominal rate from each household for the water supply. The government will also provide funds to the user committees to address the problems that may crop up while continuing the scheme," said the minister.

He further reiterated that for the successful implementation of JJM in the State, everyone- from the panchayat level to the ministerial level- must be involved, and everyone must carry out their responsibilities sincerely.

While responding to a question on the construction of household toilets, minister Dass said that some areas had been certified as Open Defecation Free (ODF) by the gaon panchayats. "But anomalies have been found. It has come to light that ODF status was granted through corrupt means. As a result, while official records show cent per cent sanitation facilities in some places, the ground reality differs," said Dass and added, "Toilets will be constructed in the households that have been left out. The government has prepared a list of such households."

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