The West Bengal government has set an ambitious deadline to accelerate the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), aiming to ensure safe drinking water access in even the most remote parts of the state. The Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department has been tasked with achieving 100 per cent completion of JJM projects in at least 4,100 villages by July 31, 2026.
The directive also mandates that the final certification process for these villages be completed within the stipulated timeframe, in accordance with official regulations.
The decision was taken at a high-level review meeting held on Tuesday at the PHE headquarters in Salt Lake. The meeting was chaired by State PHE Minister Ajay Kumar Poddar and attended by Minister of State Bhaskar Bhattacharya, PHE Secretary Randhir Kumar, and other senior officials.
Emphasising the urgency of the initiative, Poddar issued strict instructions to ensure that projects are completed on time without delays. “Public welfare projects like drinking water supply cannot be left pending. To strengthen the state’s overall drinking water system, work must be completed within the pre-determined timeframe,” he said.
Officials indicated that the government is taking a firm stance against administrative delays in delivering this essential service. Alongside reviewing the current progress, the meeting also outlined a detailed roadmap for future implementation.
According to administrative sources, discussions were held on a five-year ‘vision plan’ as part of the department’s long-term strategy. A concrete ‘action plan’ was also finalised, detailing the phased rollout of drinking water projects up to March 31, 2027, aimed at expediting service delivery at the grassroots level.
Special focus was given to ongoing projects in East and West Medinipur districts. The minister directed officials to immediately accelerate large-scale works in these regions to address persistent drinking water challenges. “The pace of major drinking water projects in East and West Medinipur must be increased so that people can benefit without delay,” he said.
Earlier, shortly after assuming office on May 18, the state government signed a key Memorandum of Understanding with the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to facilitate the effective implementation of the JJM. As part of this initiative, an agreement worth Rs 39,000 crore has been finalised for the second phase of the scheme, aimed at expanding piped drinking water supply across rural Bengal.
Officials said the latest push reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring uninterrupted access to safe and purified drinking water for every household in the state.
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