JJM implementation in Meghalaya to be completed by March next year

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 11, 2024

Minister in-charge Public Health Engineering (PHE) Marcuise N Marak on Tuesday informed that the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) implementation is targeted to be completed by March next year.

Addressing media persons, Marak said 81.39 percent of work has been completed so far.

“Working season just started and all contractors and companies are on the job now and we are trying our best to complete the implementation by March next year,” he added.

There are over 6000 plus projects under the JJM and all are geo tagged. “All projects are getting tagged otherwise we will not be getting funds from the Government of India,” Marak stated.

The minister however informed that some projects could not be completed due to challenges that include delay in getting the forest clearances.

“There are some challenges. We are working on that, like clearance from forest that is still there, we are yet to get some forest clearances for some projects,” he said.

Asked, the minister said, “The proposals are such that the department has already proposed in such places where trees are not there and we are making sure that trees should not be cut just to make this project complete. So, but then since it is under the forest department, forest clearance has to be there.”

Further, Marak also revealed that drying up of water sources is also affecting the implementation of the JJM.

“We are trying to get some additional funds from the state. I have already discussed with the chief minister that if the centre is not giving us funds, we have to find some funds from the government of Meghalaya so that we change the sources in order (such) projects sustain,” he said.

Meanwhile, Marak said that most of the land issues have been settled by the department for the smooth implementation of the mission.