New Delhi, May 6 (PTI) The Centre has signed separate MoUs with the governments of Mizoram and Ladakh under the Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 to strengthen rural drinking water supply systems through a community-led and sustainable framework, the Ministry of Jal Shakti said on Wednesday.
The reform-linked memoranda of understanding (MoUs) commit the state and the Union territory to a structured framework for transparent and community-centred rural drinking water service delivery, according to an official statement.
The agreements mandate a gram panchayat-led, service-based model of rural water governance aligned with the objectives of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0, it said.
The MoUs were signed in the virtual presence of Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil and Minister of State for Jal Shakti V Somanna.
The MoU with Mizoram was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Lalduhoma, while the agreement with Ladakh was signed in the presence of Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.
Addressing the gathering, Patil said the reform-linked MoUs mark a pivotal step in achieving 'Har Ghar Jal' (HGJ) for all rural households by 2028.
He commended Mizoram's near-100 per cent reported physical progress under JJM and urged timely reforms in operation, maintenance and community participation to ensure HGJ-certified status.
The minister assured full central support, including expedited fund releases, to maintain implementation momentum for the state.
Referring to Ladakh, Patil congratulated Saxena for "his commendable efforts in ensuring 98.18 per cent FHTC (Functional Household Tap Connection) in the UT" and urged rapid execution of the mission in line with JJM 2.0 guidelines to achieve 100 per cent HGJ-certified UT status.
He said JJM 2.0, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focuses on "accountability, water quality and long-term sustainability".
Patil also urged Mizoram and Ladakh to prioritise "Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari through convergence with schemes like MGNREGA to ensure the long-term viability of the water supply systems".
In his address, Lalduhoma termed the MoU "a potential game changer for the state" and said 1,33,060 rural households in Mizoram had been provided with FHTCs, with 99 per cent physical progress achieved across sanctioned schemes.
He said all rural schools and Anganwadi centres in the state had also been covered with tap water supply and highlighted the establishment of 28 water testing laboratories, including NABL-accredited facilities.
Addressing the event, Saxena termed the signing of the MoU "a historic occasion" and said substantial progress had been achieved under JJM in the difficult terrain of Ladakh.
Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation Secretary Ashok K K Meena said the MoU prioritises not just infrastructure setup of pipelines, but sustainable services managed at the grassroots level.