Jal Shakti ministry eyes tap water connectivity in rural India by 2025
A ministry official said it is focused on bridging these gaps in 2025, ensuring no household is left without access to clean drinking water
Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil expressed optimism about achieving full coverage, emphasising his ministry's continuous coordination with lagging states and Union territories
The Jal Shakti ministry has set its sights on 2025 to achieve the ambitious targets of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) after falling short of the 2024 deadline to provide tap water connections to all rural households.

The ministry also aims to ensure universal Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus status for villages while advancing ecological restoration under the Namami Gange Programme.

Over 153.7 mn rural households out of a total of 193.6 mn have been equipped with tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission. However, around four crore households remain uncovered.

Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil expressed optimism about achieving full coverage, emphasising his ministry's continuous coordination with lagging states and Union territories.

"All the four crore connections are at some level of completion, and though it is a state subject, we have urged all states and Union territories to accelerate their efforts to ensure 100 per cent coverage as soon as possible," Paatil told PTI.