While Kerala is not a water-scarce State, it has been struggling to keep up with other States in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission. (File Photo)
The Kerala government is moving ahead with plans to create a ‘State Water Security Plan’, a requirement under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the Centrally-assisted functional household tap connectivity (FHTC) scheme for rural areas.
Given the multi-dimensional nature of water security, the government has constituted a committee with members from the Local Self-Governments, Irrigation, Ground Water, Revenue and Forest departments; and the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), and the Kerala Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (Jalanidhi).
The character of the water security plan will be decided through deliberations, Jeevan Babu, managing director, KWA and mission director, JJM, said. KWA is the main implementation agency of JJM in Kerala. Deliberations will have to be held because of the involvement of multiple stakeholder agencies in surface and ground water resources and the diverse demands on these resources ranging from drinking water to irrigation and power generation.
The panel has been formed on a recommendation made by the State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM), a committee chaired by the Chief Secretary which was constituted in 2020 to oversee the implementation of JJM.
While Kerala is not a water-scarce State, it has been struggling to keep up with other States in the implementation of JJM. The Union Budget 2025-26 announcement extending the scheme till 2028 has brought relief to the State.
With implementation at 54.66%, Kerala is at the bottom of the national-level list, indicate Union Jal Shakti Ministry data. Three blocks, 73 panchayats and 95 panchayats in Kerala have been certified as having ‘Har Ghar Jal’ status. Among the districts, Wayanad (37.90%), Idukki (36.93%) and Kasaragod (32.62%) are lagging behind in the implementation.
Published – July 23, 2025 05:09 pm IST
