The ₹1.5 Lakh Crore Push: Securing Meghalaya’s Water Future

The Ministry of Jal Shakti has signed a reform-linked Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Meghalaya to enhance the availability of clean and safe tap water in rural areas under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). With this agreement, Meghalaya becomes the 12th state to join Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, approved by the Union Cabinet on March 10, 2026.

Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil expressed confidence that Meghalaya will soon achieve 100% rural tap water coverage, noting that the state has already reached about 83% coverage under the Mission. He urged officials to expedite the remaining work for timely completion.

The Minister also highlighted that while the original JJM deadline of May 2024 has been extended to December 2028, the Union Cabinet has approved an additional outlay of ₹1.51 lakh crore for the programme, including ₹67,300 crore earmarked in the Union Budget 2025–26.

Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma noted that Meghalaya adopted a comprehensive State Water Policy in 2019 and has established a multi-departmental climate council to address water-related challenges. He emphasised coordinated efforts across departments in areas such as awareness generation, soil conservation, and operations and maintenance, reaffirming the state’s commitment to ensuring sustainable water supply in both quantity and quality.

Since the launch of JJM, Meghalaya has achieved 83.59% rural tap water coverage, marking a significant improvement from its earlier position among the lowest-performing states. The reform-linked MoU aims to ensure that every rural household receives regular access to safe drinking water through strengthened community participation, or “Jan Bhagidari.”

The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister C.R. Patil and Minister of State V. Somanna, with Chief Minister Sangma joining virtually. It was formally exchanged between Swati Meena Naik from the ministry and Praveen Bakshi from the state government, in the presence of senior officials.

Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) Secretary Ashok K.K. Meena emphasised that the agreement prioritises sustainable, community-managed water services, empowering gram panchayats and village water and sanitation committees to operate and maintain local water supply systems.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.