According to Right To Information (RTI) documents, Kerala is ranked No. 31 in implementing the Central scheme of the Jal Jeevan Mission. The State Government had requested an extension of one more year to complete the Mission. The request was made when the stipulated period was expired.
The Union Government sanctioned the project of Rs 44,714 crore for the State of Kerala. Rs 35,810 crore is required for the completion of the scheme. So far, Rs 8,813 crore has been spent. According to the reply provided by the Jal Jeevan Public Information Officer, the shares of Local Self-Governing Bodies and the consumers have not been spent. The expenses of the Mission are divided as follows: 50 per cent to be borne by the Union Government, 25 per cent by the State, 15 per cent by Local Self-Governing Bodies, and 10 per cent by the beneficiaries.
The RTI reply is alarming. The CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government, including Pinarayi Vijayan, the CPM supremo and State Chief Minister, along with his colleagues in LDF and Government, have been boasting that Kerala is numero uno in all aspects. They cite examples of health, hygiene, education, and more. However, what we see here is a failure of the Government even in utilising the schemes provided by the Union Government.
The Jal Jeevan Mission is envisaged to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections to all households in rural Bharat by 2024. The program will also implement source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, such as recharge and reuse through greywater management, water conservation, and rainwater harvesting. The Jal Jeevan Mission will be based on a community approach to water and will include extensive information, education, and communication as key components of the Mission. The Jal Jeevan Mission looks to create a Jan Andolan for water, thereby making it everyone’s priority.
Greywater, which includes waste water from showers, baths, washbasins, and washing machines, can be effectively managed and reused. This not only eases the burden on municipal water treatment but also plays a crucial role in water conservation, a pressing need in today’s world.
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