Arunachal Pradesh to Complete 100% Tap-Water Connection by 2023

Arunachal Pradesh government has pledged to provide 100% tap water connection to all the areas by the year 2023, as announced by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. This will be provided under the Jal Jeevan Mission of the ministry, aimed at providing safe drinking water to all.

Highlights

According to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, a gravity-based water supply system is being used in Arunachal Pradesh due to its altitude. In this system, the force of gravity is being utilized to move the water downhill from a source to the village. An intake structure is built to collect that water from the surface sources and the water is then transmitted to the village through a pipe system. This is part of the dedicated program launched by the Prime Minister to bring improvements in the lives of the citizens of the country, especially people from rural areas.

Under this mission, water treatment plants have been made an integral part of schemes to provide potable drinking water of prescribed quality to all the citizens of the country. Post-treatment in these plants, water is collected in a reservoir built above the village, from where the water is distributed to the villages by a distribution network of pipes. To facilitate equitable distribution of water in the larger villages, distribution tanks within the premises of the villages are provided.

The Ministry has stated that the implementation of the mission in the tough terrains is an uphill task and the harsh climatic conditions along with poor connectivity are making things more difficult. To introduce behavioural changes in the villagers, the Ministry has to conduct awareness programs since the villagers are not interested to change their beliefs and lifestyle.

However, overall, the condition is improving and along with that the lives of people, especially women, are also improving.

Jal Jeevan Mission

It is meant to supply 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household of the country through Functional Household Tap Connections, by the year 2024. It focuses on integrated demand and supply-side management of water at the local level. The mission is being implemented in a community approach to water and includes extensive information, education and communication as the key component of the mission. JJM is aimed at creating a Jan Andolan for water to make it a priority for everybody. The funds are shared by the central government and the states in the ratio of 50:50 for normal states whereas it is 90:10 for the Himalayan and the North-Eastern States.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2020