The Union Territory will also provide piped potable drinking water to all rural households by December 2022

Jammu and Kashmir is working to provide piped potable water supply to every school and Anganwadi centre within the 100-day deadline announced by the central government on October 2.

This will ensure that children will have access to potable piped water for drinking, hand washing and for use in toilets when the schools reopen after being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Safe water and improved hygiene is essential for their growth and holistic development, the ministry pointed out.

The Union Territory is also planning to provide universal coverage of piped potable drinking water by December 2022, said the Ministry of Jal Shakti after it reviewed progress of the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in Jammu and Kashmir.

This would be well ahead of the
national goal of providing piped water supply to all households by 2023-24, the ministry said in official statement on Saturday.

According to official data, J&K has 18.17 lakh households, out of which 8.38 lakhs (46%) have already been provided with tap water connections. The UT has been allocated Rs 681.77 crore as central share under the Jal Jeevan Mission for this financial year.

During the review conducted by the ministry, stress was given on the constitution of Village Water & Sanitation Committees. This would help involve the local village community and Gram Panchayats in planning, implementation, management, operation and maintenance of water supply systems in the villages.