Bhubaneswar:The Odisha government’s ambitious plan to provide piped drinking water to its populace, with an earmarked budget of over Rs. 8,600 crore for fiscal year 2025-26, faces a significant challenge due to a slowdown in central government funding, particularly under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
While the state has allocated a substantial Rs. 7,000 crore under JJM (along with Rs. 1,600 crore under its state-specific BASUDHA scheme and Rs. 600 crore for sanitation under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Gramin)), the reduced release of these crucial central funds is causing a cash crunch for ongoing drinking water projects.
This disparity between Odisha’s robust budgetary provisions and the actual fund disbursement from the Centre poses a significant hurdle to the timely implementation and completion of these vital drinking water schemes across the state.
The reported decline in fund flow from the central government directly threatens to slow down the progress of providing clean and safe drinking water to rural households, despite the state’s proactive efforts.
The impact of this funding shortfall is keenly felt, even as Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja recently directed district collectors to expedite the execution of these schemes, emphasizing the need for timely field visits and resolving challenges like electricity connections and departmental clearances. Odisha has sanctioned a large number of single village piped water supply schemes (SVPWSS) and mega drinking water supply schemes, with targets set for completion in the coming months and years, making the consistent flow of JJM funds critical.
The funding and implementation gaps in the Jal Jeevan Mission are not unique to Odisha; concerns about reduced central funding and bureaucratic irregularities have been raised nationally, impacting progress in various states. While JJM has undeniably made significant strides in providing tap water connections across the country, challenges in functionality and regional disparities persist, often exacerbated by inconsistent fund disbursement. The Odisha government is actively seeking to address these issues and ensure its citizens have access to safe drinking water, but the reported fluctuations in central funding from the Jal Jeevan Mission present a significant obstacle to achieving these vital public health goals. Sources