Background

Before 1974, the execution of Rural Drinking Water Schemes was managed under a centrally aided scheme. In 1974-75, the responsibility shifted to a state-aided scheme under the Minimum Requirement Program. However, in 1977, a resource deficit at the state level prompted the Central Government to reintroduce its centrally aided scheme, thus restarting the Rural Drinking Water Supply scheme. In 1984, a state-aided drinking water scheme specifically for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was launched.

In 2000, the Government of India implemented the Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana, and in 2003, the schemes for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and the Minimum Requirement Program were merged into this initiative.

In 2009, the National Rural Drinking Water Supply Program was introduced to enhance the existing quick drinking water schemes. This program integrated the state-aided and operated drinking water schemes and allocated 10 to 15 percent of the funds for construction, operation, and maintenance to ensure the sustainability of water sources and schemes. However, in 2017, the Government of India revised the guidelines and abolished the provisions for sustainability, operation, and maintenance. Currently, the National Rural Drinking Water Program operates with a 50:50 financial support ratio from the Centre and the State.

In 2016-17, a State Rural Drinking Water Scheme, funded by the state government, was launched to address priorities related to rural drinking water that were not covered by the central government's priorities. Additionally, under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Yojana, drinking water supply schemes are being implemented in minority-dominated districts.

The Jal Jivan Mission, launched by the Jal Shakti Mantralaya, Government of India, merged with the National Rural Drinking Water Supply Scheme. The mission aims to provide piped drinking water to every household in the state by 2024. The Government of India has issued detailed guidelines for this mission, and the Government of Uttar Pradesh has also provided guidelines for its implementation in the state, as outlined in their G.O. No. 190/76-1-2020-25 Sam/2019 dated January 24, 2020.

Coverage of rural settlements with drinking water

Currently, according to a survey conducted by the Central Government there are 96,183 populated villages in the state. The total population of these villages is 16.4632 crores. Additionally, the state has a total of 254,122 settlements, as per the Government of India's operated portal https://ejalshakti.gov.in/imisreports/.

General Coverage

All settlements in the state have been provided with drinking water facilities through hand pumps or pipe schemes, meeting the minimum standard of 40 liters of water per person per day. A total of 2,895,361 hand pumps have been installed in the state's rural areas, with one hand pump for every 58 people. Consequently, all villages and settlements in the state meet the minimum water requirement standard of 40 liters per person per day.

Covered with Pipe Drinking Water Scheme

The Government of India aims to provide piped drinking water (FHTC) to all rural households by 2024 under the Jal Jeevan Mission. As of on date, approximately 2.23 Crore people have benefited from this initiative.

Priority decided by Government of India/State Government

The Government of India has prioritized providing potable piped drinking water to every household in the state under the Jal Jeevan Mission. According to the guidelines, the use of hand pumps is generally discouraged. For villages affected by water quality issues, treatment plants may be provided, or in cases where no other options are available, very deep hand pumps may be installed to address problems such as arsenic or fluoride contamination. Currently, the primary focus is on supplying piped drinking water to every household by March 2025.

Execution of schemes

The following programs are being operated in the state to provide drinking water through piped drinking water schemes in the rural areas :

1. Jal Jeevan Mission in Uttar Pradesh

The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), launched by the Government of India on August 15, 2019, is a comprehensive initiative aimed at providing safe drinking water to all households in India, meeting the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) 10500 standards with a target of 55 liters per capita per day (LPCD) by 2024. In Uttar Pradesh, the mission spans all 75 districts and 97,000 villages, encompassing 44,142 schemes to cover a serving population of about 17 Cr. This ambitious undertaking faces challenges, particularly in ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply for water supply schemes, given the impracticality and unavailability of conventional power in many locations.

To address this challenge, an innovative approach has been adopted, transitioning from conventional power sources to renewable solar power for drinking water supply schemes. This shift has proven crucial for expediting projects and meeting deadlines. Out of 44,142 drinking water supply schemes under JJM in Uttar Pradesh, 33,157 schemes covering 67,013 villages, 2.07 crore households, and serving a population of 13.30 crores, have designed on solar-based power. The designed solar capacity stands at approximately 900 MW.

This transition to solar power has not only facilitated timely project completion but has also resulted in significant operational cost savings and a reduction in carbon footprints. Such innovations not only fulfil project ambitions but also contribute to environmental conservation.

2. Neer Nirmal Project (world bank aided) – in 14 Districts

Four lower-income states in the country—Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh—were selected for the Neer Nirmal project to improve sanitation standards and drinking water facilities. The project is being executed in two phases in the state as follows:

Batch-1: In Batch-1, a total of 246 village panchayats from nine districts (Allahabad, Bahraich, Gonda, Ballia, Ghazipur, Deoria, Basti, Kushinagar, and Gorakhpur) have been selected to receive piped drinking water. Among these villages, 231 piped water projects are in progress, comprising 218 single-village projects and 13 small multi-village projects. The total construction cost of these projects is Rs. 418.69 crore, of which Rs. 391.19 crore has been expended. All 231 projects have been commissioned, and handed over to the village panchayats.

Batch-2: In Batch-2, a total of 547 village panchayats from 11 districts (Allahabad, Bahraich, Gonda, Ballia, Ghazipur, Kushinagar, Sonbhadra, Fatehpur, Varanasi, Siddharthnagar, and Sant Kabir Nagar) have been selected to receive pure drinking water through piped water projects. A total of 355 piped water projects have been completed under this program, including 251 single-village projects and 104 multi-village projects. The total construction cost of these projects is Rs. 1,030.32 crore, with Rs. 819.19 crore already expended.

State Rural Drinking Water Program: The state government initiated the State Rural Drinking Water Scheme using its own financial resources in FY 2016-17. By the beginning of FY 2019-20, a total of 187 piped drinking water projects were underway in various districts. Of these, 159 projects were have been completed till yet.

An expenditure of 33315.06 Lacks has been done as against sanctioned cost of 40377.52 Lacks.

3. Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK)

According to Government of India guidelines, various welfare schemes for minority welfare are operated in minority-dominated areas of the state. By the end of FY 2017-18, 257 projects worth Rs. 659.00 crore had been approved across various districts. Of these, seven projects were surrendered due to unavailability of land or because the villages were involved in other piped drinking water schemes. By March 2019, a total of 61 projects had been completed. In FY 2019-20, 189 projects were under implementation, with six projects completed by March 2020 and more than 75% progress achieved on 55 projects. Out of the total available funds of Rs. 95.58 crore, including the carryover from the previous fiscal year, Rs. 66.21 crore had been expended by the end of FY 2019-20. As of now out of a total 191 water supply proect, 150 projects have been completed till date and on expendutere of 35834.00 Lacks have been done against a sanctioned cost of 39969.81 Lacks.

4. Operation and Maintenance of Piped Drinking Water Projects in Rural Areas

In 1975, the Uttar Pradesh Water Supply and Sewer Management Act was established to develop water supply and sewer-related services. For the operation of these schemes at the state level, the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural) was constituted, along with regional institutions such as the Water Institute in Jhansi and Garhwal/Kumaon (now in Uttarakhand).

Responsibilities and rights related to rural drinking water projects were delegated to the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural), except for projects in the Bundelkhand area, as per Government of Uttar Pradesh notifications No. 3426/9-2(3)-79 dated August 1, 1979, and No. 2894/9-2-87-57 (93)-87 dated March 16, 1988. With the empowerment of the Panchayati Raj system, the operation and maintenance of piped drinking water projects in rural areas are now being undertaken by the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural), Jhansi/Chitrakoot Water Institution, and village Panchayats

Operation and Maintenance policy has been issued by govt. of Uttar Pradesh in 2024. The tender Process for Operation and Maintenance of the scheme maintained by Jal Nigam (Rural) and handed over to Panchayati Raj is under progress.

5. Installation of Hand Pumps on the selected places by Hon’ble MLAs:

Under the Quick Economic Development Scheme in FY 2017-18 and 2018-19, each Hon’ble MLA and MLC was granted approval to install 100 Hand Pumps in their designated area. Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural) oversees the installation of hand pumps in 66 districts of the state, while Uttar Pradesh Agro handles the same responsibility in 9 districts.

In FY 2017-18

In FY 208-19

Piped Drinking Water Project – Physical Progress

Financial Progress