Jaipur: The Union and the state government had got involved in a fresh tussle on projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) as the later alleged that Union jal shakti ministry is not giving necessary approval to connect around 6,000 villages in the state with surface water.
Officials of the Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED), under the JJM the government had earlier decided to provide groundwater connection to these villages. But they were compelled to change their mind as report suggested that situation of groundwater in these villages have deteriorated to a great extent.
“We have already submitted fresh DPR for these connections. However, the Union government officials are not approving the proposal yet. In the last two project meetings held in December 2022 and January 2022, the Union government representatives just gave us lame excuses and diverted this issue. In this way Rajasthan will never be able to meet the JJM deadline,” a senior PHED official disclosed.
Officials said, in April 2022, the Centre (Western Region) Ground Water Board and the State Groundwater Department jointly gave report on condition of the ground water in Rajasthan. The report stated, 219 of the 302 blocks in the state are over exploited in terms of groundwater.
Following this PHED constituted an expert committee to ensure that projects undertaken by the state government and projects under the JJM are feasible. Following report of this expert committee PHED had decided to provide drinking water to these 6,000 odd villages under the JJM through surface water, instead of ground water.
“The problem is if we provide ground water connection to these villages the project would sustain barely for two years. Because, by then, ground water resources of these villages would get empty,” another PHED official added.
Officials said, owing to this change in plans, the revised project cost would be Rs 23,945 crore. Of which the Union government would pay half of the project cost.
Officials of the Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED), under the JJM the government had earlier decided to provide groundwater connection to these villages. But they were compelled to change their mind as report suggested that situation of groundwater in these villages have deteriorated to a great extent.
“We have already submitted fresh DPR for these connections. However, the Union government officials are not approving the proposal yet. In the last two project meetings held in December 2022 and January 2022, the Union government representatives just gave us lame excuses and diverted this issue. In this way Rajasthan will never be able to meet the JJM deadline,” a senior PHED official disclosed.
Officials said, in April 2022, the Centre (Western Region) Ground Water Board and the State Groundwater Department jointly gave report on condition of the ground water in Rajasthan. The report stated, 219 of the 302 blocks in the state are over exploited in terms of groundwater.
Following this PHED constituted an expert committee to ensure that projects undertaken by the state government and projects under the JJM are feasible. Following report of this expert committee PHED had decided to provide drinking water to these 6,000 odd villages under the JJM through surface water, instead of ground water.
“The problem is if we provide ground water connection to these villages the project would sustain barely for two years. Because, by then, ground water resources of these villages would get empty,” another PHED official added.
Officials said, owing to this change in plans, the revised project cost would be Rs 23,945 crore. Of which the Union government would pay half of the project cost.
