JJM gets `11,500 crore

SHORT

The Jal Jeevan Mission of the NDA government seeking to provide water to every household in the country by 2024 has got a major push wity the union budget allocating Rs 11,500 crore to it. The amount is more than half of the total earmarked funds of Rs 21,518 crore for the department of drinking water and sanitation under the Jal Shakti Ministry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the Jal Jeevan Mission on Independence Day. “Our government has approved Rs 3.60 lakh crore for this Mission. This scheme also places stress on augmenting local water sources, recharging existing sources and will promotewater harvesting and de-salination. Cities with over a million population will be encouraged to meeting this objective during the current year itself,” he had said. In the last budget, Rs 9416 crore was allocated for this ambitious mission that aims to provide piped water supply to all households by 2024. The Swachch Bharat Mission (Gramin), another flagship programme of the Modi government, has been allocated Rs 20,000 crore. After the Modi government came to power for the second time, it formed the Jal Shakti Ministry bringing all the water related departments under it. The Department ofWater Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has been earmarked Rs 8,960 crore. Of this, the Atal Bhujal Yojana, aimed at increasing the groundwater level inwater stressed districts of the country. The Namami Gange mission, which aims to has been allocated Rs 800 crore.