Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha stressed the needs to accelerate the pace of work of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to achieve its target of providing drinking water connections to 100% of households in rural areas by 2024.
He also directed the concerned officials to pay special attention on the remote settlements, especially the 12 aspirational villages under Dhalai District of Tripura.
Dr Saha was speaking at a review meeting of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) held at the Secretariat in Agartala on Monday.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, Secretary of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation Abhishek Singh, Chief Architect of the Department Shyamlal Bhumik, Director Rajiv Majumder, Director of the Panchayat Department Prosonno De, Managing Director of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Debasish Sarkar, and engineers of different levels of the department.
The Chief Minister said that the Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide drinking water connections to every household in rural areas of the state. In this regard, special attention should be given to remote hemlets. Drinking water connections should be provided to the 12 aspirational villages on a priority basis.
He also directed the concerned departments to take necessary measures to conserve drinking water sources in coordination with the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation and the Panchayat Department.
Besides, Dr Saha also stressed the need to replace old water pipes in urban areas.
Secretary of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation Abhishek Singh presented a detailed picture of the progress of the Jal Jeevan Mission in the state.
The Secretary said only 3.3 percent of total households in the State had water connection prior to the introduction of the JJM. The situation is improved as 72.61 percent households have piped water connection.
Pointing out that Janajati dominated Lefunga Block in West Tripura District witnessed 100 percent coverage of drinking water connections, the Secretary said, 222831 families in the TTAADC have been provided with piped drinking water connections. The percentage is 69.35%.
He added 92.68 percent of schools and 84.68 percent of Anganwadi centers have been brought under the ambit of piped drinking water connections.
