Telangana IT Minister KT Rama Rao has stated that the Government of India has made no contribution to Telangana’s achievement of 100% water connection. The Minister responded to a Tweet by a former CBI Joint Director who credited the central government’s Jal Jeevan Mission for Telangana’s successful water connection efforts.
Former CBI Joint Director VV Lakshmi Narayana expressed congratulations to Goa, Telangana and Haryana for achieving 100% household water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission. He also highlighted the water connection percentages of Punjab, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
In response, Minister KTR stated, “Lakshmi Narayana, it is Telangana State Government’s project, Mission Bhagiratha, which has led to 100% household water connections. It is a brainchild of CM KCR. In fact, Mission Bhagiratha has inspired the Modi government to undertake the Jal Jeevan Mission. As always, the Government of India has contributed a big zero to Mission Bhagiratha, despite Niti Ayog recommending a grant of $19,000 crore for it.”
Telangana launched the Mission Bhagiratha programme in August 2016 to provide piped drinking water supply to every household in the state. Inspired by the state government’s initiative, the Narendra Modi government at the Centre launched the Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019. To date, the state government has provided tap water connections to over 54 lakh rural households and 20 lakh urban households in the state, with an expenditure of Rs 45,000 crore.
