Jal Jeevan Mission ensures four reservoirs in West Rajasthan
Union Ministry of Jal Shakti recently announced the construction of four reservoirs in Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Bikaner in a bid to meet existing and projected drinking water needs in nine districts of the state under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). The major development was announced by Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat while he announced the allocation of INR 1275 crores to create sustainable water sources in the escape channels of Indira Gandhi Nagar Yojana (IGNP). The entire process will leverage an additional storage capacity of 1,100 cusecs of water in three districts.
Shekhawat further asserted that he had recently had discussion with PHED minister B D Kalla in Delhi who identified that the state, at present, had only a capacity to store 1,031 cusecs of water for JJM.
“The state would require around 2,132 cusec to fulfill its water needs till 2054 under the JJM. The reservoirs under the scheme will come up at Bikaner, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer,” said the minister.
Shekhawat said there would be no shortage of funds for the project. “In the state, household water tap connections account for 20.7%. In 2020-21, over 6.77 lakh water connections have been given down under JJM,” said Shekhawat, who added that the state had assured him of providing 30 lakh new connections this financial year. “The Budget allocation for the scheme by the Centre has increased from Rs 2,522 crore to Rs 10,180 crore with the aim of providing tap connections. The state has 101.32 lakh rural household beneficiaries under the scheme," he said.
