By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 30: PHE Minister Marcuise N Marak on Thursday announced that the state government will intensify monitoring and streamline the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0, following reports of acute water shortages in parts of Meghalaya.
Addressing concerns that at least seven villages are facing a severe crisis—with residents reportedly forced to purchase potable water—Marak stated he would seek specific details from the department to address the situation.
The minister outlined several measures to strengthen project execution at the grassroots level. Following a video conference with all Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Marak emphasised the need for tighter administrative coordination. He noted that the Centre has mandated the generation of IDs for infrastructure tracking; currently, 1,931 IDs have been created for out-village infrastructure covering 6,732 habitations, while 1,570 IDs have been generated for in-village works covering 2,500 habitations.
Under the updated monitoring framework, District Water and Sanitation Committees (DWSM), headed by DCs, are required to upload meeting minutes to the IMIS platform for review by the Union Government. Marak also highlighted “Jalseva Ankalan,” a district-level audit designed to assess the functionality of existing schemes. To ensure long-term sustainability, district technical units will now flag technical issues directly to Deputy Commissioners for escalation to the state government. The minister stressed that village water committees must take ownership of these projects to ensure effective maintenance.
Instructions have been issued for mandatory monthly review meetings at the district level, with regular performance tracking to ensure JJM schemes remain operational and reliable.
