Raipur: Chhattisgarh has made remarkable progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission, with more than 4.18 million household tap connections installed across rural areas, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao said on Wednesday. Speaking at a conference held at Samvad Auditorium in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, Sao highlighted that the initiative has so far provided piped drinking water access to over 3.2 million rural families.
Before the launch of the Jal Jeevan Mission, the state had just around 319,000 household tap connections, underscoring the scale of transformation achieved over the past two years through accelerated implementation and close monitoring of drinking water schemes.
100 Percent Household Tap Connectivity in Thousands of Villages
According to Deputy Chief Minister Sao, 6,572 villages in Chhattisgarh have now achieved 100 percent household tap connectivity. Of these, 5,564 villages have been officially declared as ‘Har Ghar Jal Grams’, reflecting complete coverage with functional tap water connections. Formal certification has been completed for 4,544 villages, and over the past two years, the number of certified villages has surged by nearly 750 percent, highlighting the rapid pace of the programme’s expansion.
In a move to ensure long-term sustainability and community participation, 5,088 gram panchayats have been handed responsibility for operating and maintaining local water supply schemes, Sao said.
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Infrastructure Development and Ongoing Projects
Before the mission, rural communities relied on 3.08 lakh handpumps, 4,440 piped water schemes, and 2,132 spot water supply systems. Currently, 70 group water supply schemes are under implementation, covering 3,208 villages and adding nearly 985,000 new household tap connections.
Emphasising water quality, the deputy chief minister noted that 77 water testing laboratories are operational statewide, with 47 laboratories accredited to maintain strict standards. To address public grievances, a 24×7 toll-free helpline (1800-233-0008) has been set up for drinking water complaints.
Accountability and Quality Assurance
Highlighting strict oversight, Sao stated that penalties exceeding ₹28.38 crore have been imposed over the past two years for substandard or delayed work. As many as 629 contracts have been cancelled, and 11 firms blacklisted, reinforcing the government’s commitment to high-quality implementation.
Future Plans: Completing the Mission
Looking ahead, the Chhattisgarh government plans to install the remaining 800,000 tap connections, complete all pending schemes, and ensure safe, continuous drinking water supply to every rural household. “Our objective is to make Chhattisgarh a ‘Har Ghar Jal’ state at the earliest,” Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao said.
The programme represents a significant step forward in improving rural livelihoods, enhancing public health, and strengthening community-driven water management across the state.
