New Delhi, Oct 22 The Jal Shakti Ministry on Thursday stressed the need for sustainable financing, regular operation and maintenance, and gram panchayat-led planning to ensure long-term functionality of rural drinking water infrastructure under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0.
Drinking Water and Sanitation Secretary Ashok K K Meena said that with the extension of JJM, the focus has shifted from infrastructure creation to functionality, source sustainability, water quality and reliable service delivery.
Meena was addressing a virtual conference organised by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) on convergence between JJM 2.0 and the 16th Finance Commission.
He highlighted the role of gram panchayats in preparing annual operation and maintenance plans, mobilising local resources, managing service delivery and ensuring accountability.
Tied grants under the 16th Finance Commission provide an opportunity to strengthen drinking water and sanitation services at the grassroots level, he said.
The grants should be prioritised for operation and maintenance, source sustainability, water quality management, service delivery improvements and strengthening local institutions, rather than creating new infrastructure where existing assets require maintenance, Meena said.
The conference highlighted that the total allocation for rural local bodies under the 16th Finance Commission exceeds Rs 4.35 lakh crore, with nearly Rs 1.74 lakh crore earmarked for water management and sanitation during the award period.
Vipul Ujwal, director in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, stressed the need to integrate requirements, resources and responsibilities into Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs), besides strengthening own-source revenue, user charges and performance-based grants.
The National Informatics Centre presented the eGramSwaraj portal’s reporting modules, covering planning, implementation, asset management, expenditure reporting and monitoring through integration with the Public Financial Management System.
Karnataka, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh shared their experiences in strengthening rural water supply through improved operation and maintenance, digital monitoring, community participation and convergence of financial resources.
Additional Secretary and Mission Director of the National Jal Jeevan Mission, Kamal Kishore Soan, urged states to complete pending compliance requirements, strengthen GPDP-based planning and improve user-charge collection.
He also called for training panchayat representatives, secretaries, sarpanches and technical personnel, and resolving eGramSwaraj login and reporting issues.
The conference also highlighted the need for training support through the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan and translating operation and maintenance manuals into local languages.
Soan said two regional conferences are planned in November to review preparedness and address implementation challenges.
The conference was the fourth in a series of consultations with states and Union territories following the Departmental Summit on Water held on September 1 and 2, 2026.
(PTI News)
