Jal Jeevan Mission- During current FY J&K has spent Rs. 1447.06 Cr: ACS Jal Shakti
‘97% of critical work components awarded through transparent e-tendering system’
SRINAGAR: Additional Chief Secretary Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra Wednesday gave an overview of the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Jammu and Kashmir since the inception of the mission.
Addressing a press conference here at DIPR Auditorium, the ACS said that like all other States and UTs of the country Jal Jeevan Mission—a flagship program of Govt of India is being implemented in the UT of J&K with an aim to connect each and every rural household with Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC).
Flanked by Mission Director Jal Jeevan Mission, Dr GN Itoo; Director Information, Minga Sherpa and Chief Engineer Jal Shakti Kashmir, the ACS said that the program shall be capable of providing drinking water at a minimum service level of 55 litres per person per day and its quality confirming to BIS 10500 Standards, regularly on a long term and sustainable basis. In UT of J&K, 3244 water supply schemes (including standalone schemes for Schools, Angawadi Centres, Health Institutions & Gram Panchayats) have been planned at an estimated cost of about Rs. 13000 crore to provide new and upgrade existing tap water connections of 18.67 lakh rural households for a sustainable, reliable and potable supply of drinking water to improve the living conditions of about 1.10 crore rural population.
Divulging further information, the ACS said that these water supply schemes comprise of about 6600 components like source development in the shape of Bore-wells, tube-wells & dug-wells besides Rapid Sand Filtration Plants, Over Head Tanks, Slow Sand Filtration Plants, Ground Service Reservoirs and pipe laying works aimed to augment the existing water supply system and to provide the new tap water connections in uncovered areas.
He informed that as on date about 97% of the critical work components have been awarded, all of them through transparent e-tendering system involving about 1700 contractors. This is in contrast to 14% in June, 2022. Similarly, the start of works has also picked up from 6% in June, 2023 to 73% as on date thereby indicating that the implementation of the mission is in full swing all across the UT. There is absolutely no compliant regarding any of the allotments, he said.
He said that as the infrastructure is being built to meet the requirements for next 30 years and a huge quantum of work is involved including laying of a vast pipe distribution network, hence the requirement of pipe material is equally large for which timely availability was to be ensured to avoid the delay in implementation of the mission without compromising on the fairness, accountability and transparency of the procurement process as envisaged in the GFR 2017 and Manual for Procurement of Goods 2017.
Talking about the financial powers, Kabra said that in strict compliance to the GFR 2017, Manual for Procurement of Goods 2017 and S.0 15 dated 09-01-2020 delegating the financial powers for award/ sanction of contracts, UT of MK has been able to purchase 60% of the total pipe requirement as on date through complete e-tendering and scrutiny through a UT level purchase committee headed by Development Commissioner Works and with members across the departments like Finance, l&C, MED etc. which was less than 5 % in June, 2022.
“About 24 OEMs have been involved in supply of pipes through competitive tendering. While doing so, on the advice of the National Jal Jeevan Mission and in view of the difficulties being faced in timely supply of GI pipes, cost effective and technically feasible HDPE pipes are also being used, especially in Jammu province which has not only resulted in increase in supply rate but a saving of about Rs. 430.00 crore is expected in the overall estimated cost of the projects,” he informed.
Under Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance, he added, a component under Jal Jeevan Mission which aims to ensure that quality of water being supplied is as per the standards of BIS 10500 to improve the health conditions in rural areas especially children & women.
“98 water testing laboratories have been set up/ strengthened across the UT, and 11 of them have been accredited by NABL,for testing of water samples the reports of which are made available on the WQMIS portal which is in the public domain,” the ACS said.
In order to involve the communities in the surveillance of the water quality, the ACS informed that they field testing Kits (FTKs) have been made available to Pani Samiti Members. As on date 7200 FTKs have been distribute and 32000 women have been trained for use of these FTKs.
Also, he said to involve the communities in planning, monitoring & implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission in villages, Pani Samitis have been constituted in all the villages of the UT who are involved in monitoring of the works at village level and on the completion of these schemes. About 23000 meetings of Pani Samitis/ special Gram Sabhas/ Jan Sabhas have been held in connection with the planning and monitoring of JJM works besides Har Ghar Jal Certification of the villages where 100% FHTCs have been provided. As on 31st August, 3088.00 Crore has been expended since the start of the Mission, out of which Rs. 2600.00 Crore have been spent during last 12 months.
The ACS informed that during the Current financial year, the UT has spent Rs. 1447.06 Crore and has been able to lift two tranches of funds amounting Rs. 1433.56 Crores from GoI.
He said that from last few weeks, some incorrect and malafide information has been propagated in respect of the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission in the UT of J&K.
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