Lucknow: In a major milestone under the Jal Jeevan Mission, Uttar Pradesh’s Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh announced on Wednesday that 90% of rural households in the water-starved Bundelkhand region are now receiving potable tap water. He assured that the remaining households will be covered soon, with work progressing in mission mode.
The minister made the statement during the first day of his three-day visit to Bundelkhand, accompanied by a high-level delegation including Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Namami Gange and Rural Water Supply Department, Anurag Srivastava. The team began its tour from Kachnauda village in Lalitpur district, where Singh interacted directly with villagers to review the on-ground progress of the scheme.
“I am here to ensure that every single individual benefits from the Jal Jeevan Mission, which is being implemented under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. So far, 90% of homes in Bundelkhand have been connected to tap water. The remaining connections are in their final stages,” Singh told the gathering.
Villagers expressed satisfaction with the water supply, with many thanking the government for what they described as a transformative step in a region long plagued by water scarcity.
The minister also explained that the purpose of the team’s visit was to get direct feedback from the beneficiaries. “Bundelkhand, which faced acute water shortage before 2019, is now witnessing a turnaround thanks to this mission,” he said.
Later in the day, Singh held a review meeting at the Collectorate auditorium with local MLAs, ACS Anurag Srivastava, and other key officials. They evaluated the status of ongoing Jal Jeevan Mission projects and identified areas needing immediate attention.
Addressing gaps and ensuring accountability
During field visits, residents raised complaints about low-pressure water supply in elevated areas, broken pipelines, and leaks. Singh responded by directing officials to install additional pumps and repair the damaged infrastructure immediately.
ACS Srivastava also reiterated the importance of timely responses and accountability. “No complaint should go unaddressed. Every drop of water counts,” he said.
Surprise inspections and water pledge
In a bid to understand ground realities better, Minister Singh made unannounced visits to several villages that were not originally on the itinerary. While most households reported regular supply, some villagers noted that although pipelines had reached their homes, actual water flow had yet to begin.
Singh instructed the district and project officials to resolve such issues without delay. ACS Srivastava also took the opportunity to educate residents about water conservation, asking them to pledge responsible usage and preservation of water.
Minister of State Mannu Lal Kori, Executive Director of the State Water and Sanitation Mission Dr. Raj Shekhar, District Magistrate of Lalitpur Akshay Tripathi, and several senior officials were part of the inspections.
The visit underlined the government’s push to not just build infrastructure, but to ensure that services reach every doorstep in one of the most water-deficient regions of the country.
