AP targets ‘Har Ghar Jal’ by 2028 under JJM 2.0

Vijayawada: Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu reiterated that the state govt is committed to ensuring safe and continuous drinking water supply to every household under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0. He set a target of achieving ‘Har Ghar Jal' across Andhra Pradesh by 2028. Participating virtually from his camp office in Amaravati in the MoU signing programme between the Centre and the state held in New Delhi on Tuesday, Naidu said the initiative aims to provide functional household tap connections to every rural home and strengthen the rural drinking water supply system.The agreement between the Centre and the state focuses not only on expanding infrastructure but also on ensuring proper operation and maintenance of water supply systems. Naidu stated that the state govt has already accorded top priority to maintenance and announced a comprehensive policy in Sept 2025. He noted that the responsibility of managing drinking water systems has been entrusted to gram panchayats, ensuring decentralised and sustainable implementation. He also highlighted that deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan is closely monitoring the implementation of the mission.Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for extending the Jal Jeevan Mission till 2028, the chief minister said the extension will help the state achieve universal drinking water coverage. He also urged Union jal shakti minister C R Patil to extend support for completing the Polavaram project by the time of the Godavari Pushkarams.Speaking after the MoU signing, C R Patil said the Centre approved the extension of JJM 2.0 following requests from several states, particularly Andhra Pradesh. He acknowledged that Chandrababu Naidu took up the matter with the Prime Minister and thanked him for proposing the continuation of the mission. Patil said that during the first phase of the programme, tap connections were provided to 16 crore households across the country, and efforts are underway to cover another 3 crore homes while addressing earlier gaps and strengthening maintenance systems.He suggested that DWCRA women's groups be engaged in water quality testing across AP, adding that the mission would significantly reduce the burden on women who otherwise travel long distances to fetch water. He noted that nearly 9 crore women nationwide have already benefited from the initiative. Patil expressed confidence that the goal of providing tap connections to every household in AP will be achieved under JJM 2.0 and stressed that access to safe drinking water is crucial for achieving the vision of a developed India by 2047.He further proposed holding a virtual meeting with district collectors in Andhra Pradesh to set clear targets and accelerate implementation. He also advised the state to utilise funds from schemes such as PM Jan Man and PM Jan Bhagidari to ensure safe drinking water reaches remote areas.