SHILLONG, Dec 10: The state has achieved 81.39% completion of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) project, with the government targeting March 2025 for its full implementation. “We are at 81.39%. The working season has just started, and companies and contractors are on the job now,” PHE Minister Marcuise N Marak said on Tuesday.
The JJM has faced delays, with its targeted completion dates being rescheduled multiple times.
Attributing the setbacks to issues such as land acquisition and forest clearances, Marak explained, “Challenges like forest clearances still exist for some projects. Additionally, some project sources are drying up. I have already discussed this with the Chief Minister, and we need to find funds to change these sources to ensure the projects are sustained.”
While most land-related issues have been resolved, Marak acknowledged that obtaining forest clearances remains a time-consuming process due to lengthy departmental procedures.
He clarified that the JJM project has been designed to avoid cutting down trees, stating, “The project is proposed in areas where there is no need to cut trees, and we are ensuring that no trees are felled.”
When questioned about concerns raised by politicians and citizens regarding alleged improper implementation of the project, Marak said, “JJM is a project nearing completion. Some projects could not progress due to delays in obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the forest department and land acquisition issues. However, I assure everyone that we will complete it by March next year.”
Addressing reports of low performance in the Garo Hills region, Marak noted, “Garo Hills was doing well initially, but some projects were abandoned as contractors failed to deliver. These projects have been cancelled and handed over to other contractors.”
The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is a flagship programme of the central government, aiming to provide functional household tap connections (FHTCs) to every rural household by 2024. In Meghalaya, the project has been a significant initiative, given the state’s unique geographical and infrastructural challenges.
