Implementation of Jal Shakti Mission in UP |ForumIAS

The Ministry of Jal Shakti has partnered with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the Government of Denmark to provide tap water connections in 11 water-scarce districts of Uttar Pradesh under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Table of Content

Implementation of Jal Shakti Mission in UP
Challenges in Implementation
Way Forward

Implementation of Jal Shakti Mission in UP

The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has successfully provided tap water connections to 12.20 crore additional rural households, bringing the total coverage to over 15.44 crore households as of 2025, which accounts for 79.74% of all rural households in India. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the mission, which was launched on August 15, 2019. The Scheme has been extended till 2028.

Status of Water Supple in Rural Household under JJM — Source: Jal Jeevan Mission – Har Ghar Jal

Phase I: Jal Shakti Abhiyan (2019) – Rural Focus

This phase targeted water-stressed rural blocks, particularly during the monsoon period.

Key Interventions in Uttar Pradesh

Rainwater harvesting and water conservation through construction of check dams, recharge pits, percolation tanks, and rooftop rainwater harvesting systems.
Rejuvenation of water bodies by desilting ponds, lakes, and traditional tanks.
Afforestation activities to improve soil moisture and groundwater recharge.
Setting up of Jal Shakti Kendras at district headquarters as knowledge and technical support centres.
Awareness and community mobilisation involving PRIs, SHGs, schools, and local communities through Jal Diwas and Jal Shapath.

Significance

Created a strong foundation for source sustainability.
Addressed acute water stress in regions like Bundelkhand and Vindhya.

Phase II: Catch the Rain Campaign (2020 onwards) – Rural and Urban Expansion

To maintain momentum during COVID-19, the government launched Catch the Rain (CTR) as a successor to JSA.

Key Features

Became an annual, nationwide campaign from 2021 onwards, covering all districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Expanded focus from rural areas to both rural and urban water conservation.
Emphasised “Catch the Rain, Where it Falls, When it Falls.”

Major Interventions

Rejuvenation of urban ponds and water bodies.
Integration of traditional water structures with modern conservation techniques.
Strengthening rainwater harvesting in buildings and public infrastructure.
Enhanced community participation and inter-departmental convergence.

Significance

Ensured year-round water conservation.
Strengthened long-term sustainability of Jal Jeevan Mission infrastructure.

Jal Jeevan Mission

The broad objectives of the Jal Jeevan Mission include:

Providing Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household.

Prioritizing FHTC provision in quality-affected areas, drought-prone regions, desert areas, and Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) villages.

Ensuring functional tap connections in schools, Anganwadi centers, gram panchayat buildings, health and wellness centers, and community buildings.

Monitoring the functionality of tap connections.

Promoting voluntary ownership among the local community through contributions in cash, kind, or labor (shramdaan).

Ensuring the sustainability of water supply systems, including water sources, infrastructure, and funding for regular operations and maintenance.

Empowering and developing human resources in the water sector, covering construction, plumbing, electrical work, water quality management, water treatment, catchment protection, and more.

Raising awareness about the significance of safe drinking water and involving stakeholders to make water everyone’s responsibility.

Challenges in Implementation

Regional water imbalance: Chronic drought in Bundelkhand and water quality stress in eastern UP hinder uniform implementation.
Groundwater depletion: Over-extraction due to water-intensive crops in western UP threatens source sustainability.
Water quality issues: Arsenic, fluoride, and iron contamination increase treatment costs and operational complexity.
O&M constraints: Limited technical capacity, poor power supply, and low revenues affect scheme maintenance in remote villages.
Institutional gaps: Weak community ownership and limited capacity of VWSCs reduce sustainability.

Way Forward

Source sustainability: Scale up rainwater harvesting, aquifer recharge, watershed development, and water body rejuvenation.
Agricultural reforms: Promote micro-irrigation and crop diversification to reduce groundwater dependence.
Tech integration: Adopt real-time water quality monitoring, IoT sensors, and digital dashboards.
Capacity building: Strengthen Gram Panchayats and VWSCs for O&M, finances, and governance.
Community engagement: Intensify awareness and water stewardship campaigns for long-term behavioural change.

Conclusion

The Implementation of Jal Shakti Mission in UP has significantly strengthened Uttar Pradesh’s transition from isolated water conservation efforts to a comprehensive, sustainable, and people-centric water management framework. These initiatives have accelerated the objectives of the Jal Jeevan Mission. Collectively, they enhance water security, climate resilience, and inclusive growth, while advancing SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).