Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil chaired a high-level review meeting at Haryana Bhawan in Delhi to drive the effective implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 across Haryana. The session brought together Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members of Parliament representing the state, alongside Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal and Haryana Public Health Engineering Minister Ranbir Gangwa. Minister Patil emphasized that delivering clean and safe drinking water to every household remains the top priority of the government, assuring full central support for state initiatives submitted under the mission’s upgraded phase.
Highlighting the scope of the program, Minister Patil noted that the Jal Jeevan Mission has successfully provided tap water connections to over 160 million households nationwide. He instructed lawmakers to strictly monitor the construction quality of ongoing infrastructure projects within their constituencies, warning that stern measures would be taken against non-compliant contractors and officials. Emphasizing sustainable water management, he urged state leaders to prioritize rainwater harvesting through localized borewells and artificial recharge systems in flood-prone regions to replenish depleting groundwater levels.
During the discussions, Union Minister Manohar Lal proposed creating 100 large lakes on available panchayat lands situated within designated dark zones across Haryana to capture monsoon runoff and rejuvenate groundwater reserves. He also recommended establishing a phased timeline to upgrade aging water supply pipelines to guarantee uninterrupted delivery. Meanwhile, Haryana Minister Ranbir Gangwa outlined the state’s progress, stating that 6,186 out of 6,557 sanctioned projects—valued at 4,786 crore rupees—have been completed, while requesting additional central funds to repair damaged storage tanks and extend coverage to smaller rural settlements.
