₹26,074.17 crore needed to complete balance Jal Jeevan Mission works in Keralam

Keralam would need ₹26,074.17 crore more in Central and State-shared funds to complete the balance works under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) rural tap connectivity scheme, according to the Water Resources department.

So far, the State has spent ₹18,640.62 crore. Water Resources Minister Mons Joseph had informed the State Legislative Assembly in a written reply that all works are expected to be completed by December 2028, subject to the availability of funds.

In terms of implementation, Keralam still languishes at the bottom of the national-level list. Only 55.24% works under JJM have been completed so far in the State, according to latest update from the Union Jal Shakti Ministry.

Seven districts - Kasaragod, Idukki, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kottayam, Malappuram and Pathanamthitta - are yet to touch the halfway mark, according to the Ministry’s figures. JJM has the goal of equipping all rural households in India with piped water supply. The Centre had extended the national-level deadline up to December 2028.

In Keralam, JJM has a total outlay of ₹44,714.79 crore. The cost is being shared at a 50:50 ratio by the Central and State governments. The main implementation agency for the scheme in Keralam, the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), had received nod from the government for securing a ₹9,000 crore loan from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). So far, the KWA has received ₹7,000 crore so far, and this amount has been spent on meeting the State’s share, according to Assembly data.

For speedy implementation of balance works and efficient utilisation of already created assets, the Water Resources department said it has prioritised works in the following manner: provide maximum water connections from completed projects, prioritise works with larger number of connections and higher potential revenue.