Srinagar, Oct 28: The Jammu and Kashmir government has said that around 81 per cent of rural households across the Union Territory have been provided with tap water connections, while efforts are underway to ensure 100 per cent coverage under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
In a written reply to a question tabled by MLA Sham Lal Sharma, the Jal Shakti Department shared that it has not failed to supply safe drinking water to any area of the UT.
It said that out of 19.26 lakh rural households, 15.63 lakh (81%) have tap water connections within their premises, while the remaining 3.63 lakh households have access to drinking water through Public Stand Posts (PSPs) installed under existing schemes.
To provide safe and adequate drinking water to all households through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs), the department said 3,253 schemes were taken up under JJM at an estimated cost of rupees 13,344 crore. Of these, 1,480 schemes have been made functional, and 1,600 have achieved more than 50% physical progress. The remaining schemes are being completed in the extended phase of JJM, subject to the release of funds by the Government of India and the UT administration.
The reply further mentions that 1,193 additional schemes are ongoing during the current financial year 2025–26, with budget estimates of rupees 946.43 crore under CAPEX/NABARD, augmenting the mission’s efforts to provide tap water to uncovered areas.
In addition to the JJM projects, the department maintains a fleet of 208 tankers to meet urgent demands arising from disruptions or shortages, particularly during the summer. The tanker services also act as an interim arrangement in pockets yet to be saturated under JJM or other UT sector schemes.
As per district-wise data, the reply states that Srinagar and Ganderbal districts have achieved 100% tap water coverage, while Kupwara (27,159 households), Kathua (35,064), Rajouri (44,759), and Doda (26,757) remain among the districts with the highest number of uncovered rural households.
Overall, out of 19,25,734 rural households, 15,63,302 have been connected, leaving a balance of 3,62,432 households to be provided with tap water connections—(KNO)
