State Urges Centre for Immediate Funds to Revive Jal Jeevan Mission

Ranchi: The Jharkhand government has appealed to the Centre for urgent financial support to resume stalled projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission. On Tuesday, State Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation, Yogendra Prasad, met Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil and highlighted the critical funding shortage that has brought the mission’s progress to a near standstill.

Prasad stated that the mission, which aims to provide clean tap water to every rural household, is grappling with a severe financial crunch. Although the Centre allocated ?2,114.16 crore to Jharkhand for the 2024–25 fiscal year, the state has received only ?70 crore so far. He also urged the immediate release of funds for the ongoing financial year, 2025–26.

Jharkhand has set a target of supplying tap water to over 62 lakh rural households. To date, more than 34 lakh homes have been covered, representing approximately 54.85% of the target.

Launched in 2019, the Jal Jeevan Mission was envisioned with an estimated cost of ?24,665.30 crore—?12,257.83 crore from the Centre and ?12,407.47 crore from the state. So far, the central government has disbursed ?5,987.46 crore, leaving ?6,270.37 crore still pending. The minister stressed that Jharkhand has consistently complied with all central guidelines under the mission and emphasized the need for timely financial support to meet the state’s water supply goals.