New Delhi, May 18 (PTI) The Centre on Monday signed reform-linked agreements with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and West Bengal under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 to promote a gram panchayat-led and community-based rural water supply system across the country.
Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil commended the Andaman and Nicobar administration for achieving 100 per cent rural tap water coverage and obtaining 'Har Ghar Jal' certification across its blocks.
"He lauded the administration for fully funding 100 per cent of the financial outlays required for 40 per cent of its remaining balance works," an official statement said.
The minister also urged the Union Territory administration to complete financial reconciliation of ongoing water infrastructure schemes to maintain accounting transparency.
Referring to West Bengal, Patil urged the state government to speed up implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 and sought immediate physical reviews in the "historically lagging districts" of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Purulia.
He also called for implementation of 'Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari' and an active focus on the 'Karmabhoomi se Matrubhoomi' campaign.
Patil said the UT and state governments must strictly follow the Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 guidelines and ensure enforcement of operation and maintenance policies.
He said responsibility for village-level infrastructure operations, daily maintenance and water tariff collection should be transferred to Village Water and Sanitation Committees.
The exchange took place in the virtual presence of Lieutenant Governor D K Joshi and Chief Secretary Chandra Bhushan Kumar.
Joshi said the Union Territory had achieved 100 per cent rural household tap water coverage in 2021 and had already rolled out decentralised trial runs under JJM 2.0.
He said a pilot project had been completed in Sippighat gram panchayat and added that the administration had utilised its allocated budget across 40 completed rural water projects.
Highlighting the islands' dependence on rainwater harvesting due to the absence of major river systems, Joshi sought central support to strengthen vulnerable supply systems.
The MoU with West Bengal was signed at the chief minister's office in the presence of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal.
Adhikari said the Centre had provided "massive financial backing" to the state and expressed confidence that the state government would work to ensure clean drinking water supply to all rural households.
"He asserted that his government would function with absolute transparency to fulfil the promises made under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Har Ghar Jal' vision," the statement said.
He also sought expedited financial and technical support for pending irrigation projects in the state.
The MoUs were signed during separate meetings attended by Patil, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti V Somanna, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) Secretary Ashok K K Meena and senior officials.
DDWS Secretary Meena said the agreements reflected a shared commitment between the Centre and the UTs and states to provide safe and sustainable drinking water to every household.