Jal Shakti minister to visit Bundelkhand, Vindhya villages for ground reality check on ¡®Har Ghar Jal¡¯ progress

Uttar Pradesh¡¯s Jal Shakti Minister, Swatantra Dev Singh, is set to visit villages in the Bundelkhand and Vindhya regions to assess the on-ground progress of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in the state. The initiative aims to provide a real-time evaluation of the 'Har Ghar Jal' implementation and gather direct feedback from locals, particularly in regions that faced severe drinking water shortages before 2017.

The minister's visits will be conducted in phases, with nine districts included in the first phase of the evaluation. The inspection will also involve a detailed assessment of ground realities. During a high-level review meeting held on Tuesday, Singh instructed officials to prepare a district-wise list of villages where tap water connections have become a reality and to chart out a plan for his upcoming field visits.

Swatantra Dev Singh will visit villages in Bundelkhand and Vindhya

In a stern message during the meeting, Singh warned that agencies showing negligence would face strict action, including jail time for those found guilty of irregularities. To ensure transparency and accountability, third-party inspections will be conducted, and daily reports will be submitted to the government.

The review meeting was attended by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Ramkesh Nishad, Additional Chief Secretary of Namami Gange and Rural Water Supply Department Anurag Srivastava, and other senior officials.

Expressing concerns over the slow pace of Jal Jeevan Mission work in Mirzapur, Srivastava directed officials to investigate implementing agencies Ramki Baba and Megha, and initiate action if discrepancies are found. He also directed ADMs and Executive Engineers to conduct regular block-level monitoring to ensure timely and effective execution of water supply projects.