Centre Signs JJM 2.0 MoUs With West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Officials said the reforms are designed to ensure long-term sustainability, accountability, and efficient service delivery in rural drinking water systems.

The Union Government has signed reform-linked Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the State of West Bengal under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0, marking a major step toward strengthening transparent, accountable, and community-centred rural water governance across India.

The agreements were signed as part of the nationwide rollout of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 reforms, which aim to establish a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based and community-driven model of rural drinking water management aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

The MoUs were formalised during separate meetings chaired by Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C.R. Patil in the presence of Minister of State for Jal Shakti Shri V. Somanna, Secretary of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) Shri Ashok K.K. Meena, and senior ministry officials.

Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 Focuses on Community-Led Water Governance

The reform-linked framework under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 mandates a village-level governance structure where Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) will play a central role in managing rural drinking water systems.

Under the new framework:

• Gram Panchayats will oversee local water infrastructure

• VWSCs will handle operations and maintenance (O&M)

• Communities will participate in water management and tariff collection

• Village-level sustainability plans will be implemented

Officials said the reforms are designed to ensure long-term sustainability, accountability, and efficient service delivery in rural drinking water systems.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands Achieve 100% Rural Tap Water Coverage

The MoU with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was signed between:

• Smt. Swati Meena Naik, Joint Secretary (Water), DDWS

• Dr. Sachin Shinde, Secretary and Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Islands Administration

The agreement was exchanged between Shri Vinod Kumar Yadav, Resident Commissioner of A&N Islands, and Shri Arun Kumar, Under Secretary, Jal Jeevan Mission, at the DDWS office in New Delhi.

The signing ceremony was attended virtually by:

• Lieutenant Governor Admiral D.K. Joshi

• Chief Secretary Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar

• Senior officials from the Union Territory administration

Union Minister C.R. Patil praised the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for becoming one of the first regions in India to achieve 100% rural tap water coverage and secure "Har Ghar Jal" certification across all blocks.

He also commended the administration for fully funding the financial requirements for 40% of the remaining balance works under the mission.

Unique Water Challenges in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Lieutenant Governor Admiral D.K. Joshi highlighted the unique geographical and environmental challenges faced by the island territory.

He noted that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands lack major river systems and permanent inland water bodies, making the region heavily dependent on rainwater harvesting and localised reservoirs for drinking water supply.

"To ensure seamless community-led infrastructure management under the new phase of JJM 2.0, the UT has already rolled out decentralised trial runs," he stated.

He informed the Ministry that a successful pilot project had already been completed in Sippighat Gram Panchayat and sought continued central support to strengthen the fragile water infrastructure systems across the islands.

West Bengal Signs MoU for JJM 2.0 Rollout

The MoU with West Bengal was formally signed at the Chief Minister's office in Kolkata.

The agreement was signed between:

• Smt. Swati Meena Naik, Joint Secretary (Water), DDWS

• Shri Narayan Swaroop Nigam, Principal Secretary, Public Health Engineering Department, West Bengal

The event took place in the presence of:

• Chief Minister Shri Suvendu Adhikari

• Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Kumar Agarwal

• Senior state government officials

Shri Dushyant Nariala, Principal Resident Commissioner of West Bengal, was also present at the DDWS office during the signing process.

Union Minister Calls for Faster Implementation in West Bengal

Addressing the West Bengal government, Union Minister C.R. Patil urged the state to accelerate implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 and address pending issues in historically lagging districts.

He specifically called for immediate physical reviews in:

• Darjeeling

• Kalimpong

• Purulia

The Minister also encouraged active implementation of:

• Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (community participation initiatives)

• Karmabhoomi se Matrubhoomi campaign

to strengthen public participation in water conservation and management.

Strong Emphasis on Transparency and Local Accountability

Shri Patil stressed that village-level infrastructure management and operations must be legally and structurally transferred to Village Water and Sanitation Committees under the new framework.

He stated that:

• Daily maintenance responsibilities

• Water tariff collection

• Revenue management

• Infrastructure operations

must be handled locally to ensure sustainability and accountability.

The Minister also emphasised the need for regular and uninterrupted drinking water supply in every village and called for prompt resolution of public grievances.

"Jal Jeevan Mission is not merely a scheme, but a life-impacting mission," Shri Patil stated, highlighting its role in improving health, dignity, and quality of life, especially for women and rural communities.

Jal Jeevan Mission Timeline Extended to 2028

The Union Minister noted that while the original target for Jal Jeevan Mission was May 2024, the timeline has now been extended until December 2028 under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The extension aims to achieve:

• 100% rural tap water connectivity

• Improved sanitation infrastructure

• Sustainable water management systems nationwide

Officials said the extension would allow states and union territories additional time to complete infrastructure works and strengthen long-term operational systems.

West Bengal Assures Full Cooperation

Chief Minister Shri Suvendu Adhikari expressed gratitude to the Central Government for its continued financial support toward rural drinking water infrastructure in West Bengal.

He assured that the state government would work transparently to fulfil the objectives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Har Ghar Jal" vision.

The Chief Minister also requested expedited financial and technical support for pending irrigation projects, citing the state's fragile financial condition and dependence on central assistance for welfare initiatives.

Gram Panchayats to Play Central Role

In his opening remarks, DDWS Secretary Shri Ashok K.K. Meena described the MoU signing as a "shared commitment" between the Centre and the states/UTs to provide safe, clean, and sustainable drinking water to every rural household.

He said Gram Panchayats have now been entrusted with:

• Managing village water systems

• Collecting water taxes

• Ensuring sustainability of local infrastructure

The Secretary also urged district administrations to conduct regular meetings of District Water and Sanitation Missions (DWSMs) to finalise village saturation plans and facilitate certification of panchayats under the "Har Ghar Jal" initiative.

Jal Jeevan Mission Continues to Expand Rural Water Access

Launched by the Government of India, Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide functional household tap connections to every rural household in the country.

The programme has emerged as one of India's largest rural infrastructure and public health initiatives, focusing on:

• Drinking water access

• Community participation

• Sustainable infrastructure management

• Women's empowerment

• Improved rural health outcomes

Officials say Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 now seeks to move beyond infrastructure creation toward long-term service delivery and community ownership models.