Panaji: Goa has become the first ‘Har Ghar Jal’ state in the country that provides 100% Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) in the rural areas covering 2.30 lakh rural households.
Announcing this today, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that all rural homes in the State now have a tap water supply. He said the two districts of Goa –North Goa with 1.65 lakh rural households, and South Goa with 98,000 rural households in 191 Gram Panchayats — are now fully saturated with assured piped water supply through tap connections.
“To strengthen the water testing facilities, the State is in process of getting 14 water quality testing laboratories NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accredited. Jal Jeevan Mission mandates training 5 persons in very village especially women to be trained in using Field Test Kits, so that water can be tested in the villages,” he said.
Goa achieved the targets well before time.
“Goa’s achievement is an example for other States to emulate and ensure every rural home gets tap connection and especially in these times of CoVid-19 pandemic, it is all the more imperative to have assured safe water supply within households. This silent revolution happening in rural India in terms of household tap water connections is a work in progress for a ‘New India’,” the Ministry of Jal Shakti stated in a press release today.
Having achieved the universal access, the State now plans for sensor-based service delivery monitoring system so as to monitor the functionality of water supply i.e. potable water in adequate quantity and of prescribed quality being provided to every rural household on regular and long-term basis.
It may be mentioned that in June, 2020, the Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, had written to Sawant appreciating the State’s Annual Action Plan (AAP) to provide 100% Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) in rural areas by 2021. The Jal Shakti Ministry had accordingly, increased the fund allocation to Goa in 2020-21 to Rs. 12.40 Crore. Besides, the State could also explore through convergence of various programmes like MGNREGS, SBM (G), 15th FC Grants to PRIs, District Mineral Development Fund, CAMPA, CSR Fund, Local Area Development Fund, etc. for strengthening of drinking water sources, water supply, grey water treatment and re-use and operation and maintenance.
– globalbihari bureau
