Chhattisgarh certifies 2,857 villages as 'Har Ghar Jal', high court seeks central funding clarity

RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh government has informed the High Court about significant progress in implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission, a central scheme aimed at providing safe drinking water to rural households. During a hearing on a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL), a division bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal reviewed the latest updates presented by the state government.
An affidavit submitted by the Secretary of the Public Health & Engineering Department on February 20, 2025, detailed advancements in several areas, including water source identification, overhead tank (OHT) construction, solar pump installations, and certification of ‘Har Ghar Jal’ villages. As of February 14, 2025, the number of certified ‘Har Ghar Jal’ villages had increased to 2,857 from 2,568 in the previous report. Identified and developed water sources rose to 32,092, up from 28,649, while the number of OHTs reached 8,732 compared to 7,292 earlier. The state also installed 13,721 solar pumps, with plans for 3,959 more.
Represented by Advocate General P N Bharat and Deputy Advocate General Shashank Thakur, the state government highlighted its progress but also stressed the importance of central funding for the project’s completion. It has already allocated Rs 7,292.28 crore of its Rs 12,968.21 crore share and set aside another Rs 4,499.99 crore in the 2024-25 budget. The state has repeatedly requested the Ministry of Jal Shakti to release the second tranche of the first installment of Jal Jeevan Mission funds for 2024-25.
In a letter dated February 13, 2025, the central government informed the Chhattisgarh Jal Jeevan Mission Director that the scheme has been extended until 2028. It also stated that the approval for its continuation and adjustments regarding the state’s advance matching share is under consideration by the Ministry of Finance.
During the hearing, intervener’s counsel Prasun Agrawal pointed out that several villages in Ambikapur, Surguja district, including Balsedi, Kulhadi, Khaliba, and Sargawan, are yet to receive water connections under the scheme, as per PHE reports. The Advocate General assured the court that the issue would be addressed, and an affidavit would be filed before the next hearing.
Acknowledging the state government’s submissions, the High Court directed the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, to be made a respondent in the PIL. The Ministry has been instructed to file an affidavit responding to the state’s claims by the next hearing.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for April 8, 2025, to monitor the progress of the mission in Chhattisgarh and review unresolved issues, including funding delays and pending water connections in rural areas. The court’s intervention underscores the urgency of ensuring clean drinking water for all households in the state.