The JJM Office at IIM Bangalore, in collaboration with UNICEF, hosted a national Consultative Workshop on JJM Operations and Maintenance (O&M) on 24th August, 2024.
In his opening address, Prof. Gopal Naik, JJM Chair Professor at IIM Bangalore, highlighted the Jal Jeevan Mission’s significance, underlining its role as a model for public service delivery. With an estimated total cost of Rs. 3.6 lakh crore, JJM has dramatically improved rural water supply infrastructure, which in turn has contributed to public health improvements, employment opportunities, and educational advancements for girls. However, challenges in operations and maintenance (O&M) and water quality persist, necessitating community involvement and innovative financial management strategies. The JJM Office at IIM Bangalore has been actively addressing these challenges by developing frameworks on economics of supply as well as operations and maintenance, and collaborating with various organizations.
Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Jal Jeevan Mission, emphasized the historical importance of water management in India and the significant progress made by JJM, which, he said, had increased water access from 16% to 78% in five years. He highlighted the need for sustainable O&M practices, urging state governments as well as communities to reconnect with traditional water management methods while adapting them for modern use.
A draft Operation and Maintenance Policy was circulated at the workshop and discussed with the participating states.
Presentations were made by the states, showcasing their O&M strategies related to rural water supply.
Tamil Nadu has implemented Single Village Schemes (SVS) and Combined Water Supply Schemes (CWSS), transferring services to village panchayats. The state faces challenges in user charge collection. Village and panchayat bodies have been asked to collect minimal local tariffs, but there remains a significant gap between the costs and the tariffs collected. Tamil Nadu also utilizes advanced technologies like IoT and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) for water quality monitoring and management.
Kerala’s water management is overseen by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), which employs the Blue Brigade system and Kudumbashree women for O&M. The state faces a financial gap between O&M costs and water tariffs, which it plans to address through revised tariffs and increased efficiency. Kerala also focuses on digital transformation, with all services available online, and employs GIS for asset management.
In Karnataka, a volumetric tariff system has been introduced, with annual increases to cover O&M costs. The state emphasizes capacity building and asset management, with a focus on upgrading service delivery and monitoring water supply through IoT. Grievance redressal is managed by Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (RDPR).
Maharashtra, reliant on groundwater resources, faces sustainability challenges. The state has drafted an O&M policy and plans to appoint Jal Surakshaks at the gram panchayat level to manage water supply. Maharashtra is also focusing on skill development and ensuring water availability through geo-tagged assets and regular water quality testing.
Andhra Pradesh is focused on shifting from groundwater-dependent sources like borewells to more sustainable surface water-based schemes, particularly Multi Village Schemes (MVS). A robust O&M policy tailored for different types of water supply schemes is needed. Significant contributions from L&T and the Sathya Sai Trust have improved O&M efficiency, particularly for MVS. The state aims to increase MVS coverage from the current 45% of rural households.
In Madhya Pradesh, MVS coverage is low at less than 10%, but efforts are underway to expand it to 230-250 villages, ensuring sustainable water sources for both MVS and Single Village Schemes (SVS). High energy and manpower costs are a challenge, and renewable energy projects like solar power are being considered to reduce these costs. Equitable water use from Overhead Tanks (OHTs) and greater transparency at the Panchayat level are emphasized.
In Telangana, Mission Bhagiratha is a key initiative providing surface water from the Krishna and Godavari rivers, with an O&M policy under review. The project targets 100 litres per capita per day (LPCD) for rural areas and 150 LPCD for urban areas. Funding comes from both government spending and revenue from commercial connections, with ongoing training for local officials. The state has achieved 100% coverage of Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) under JJM, and all assets have been geo-mapped for monitoring.
In Rajasthan, O&M strategies differ between SVS and MVS, with responsibilities divided between Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) and external agencies. Significant costs are associated with electricity consumption for tubewells, and Nal Jal Mitras have been appointed to manage O&M, though some gaps remain. Consumers must meet specific conditions to avail of tap water connections, and GIS mapping is used for asset management.
In Gujarat, despite a high achievement in potable water supply before JJM, challenges in O&M persist, particularly regarding community ownership and funding. The panchayats face difficulties in collecting user fees and managing funds, with a need for better community engagement and external support.
After the state presentations, Prof. Gopal Naik again emphasized the importance of sustainable water use and community-managed O&M, where local entities like Gram Panchayats and VWSCs play a crucial role. Different operational models include community-managed, state-centric with community ownership, and external agency support, each with varying levels of community involvement. Financing for O&M includes user fees, establishing water tariffs, and setting up corpus funds for major repairs, with a focus on capacity building and training for local communities. State-level support is vital for major repairs, water quality testing, and financial planning, while local bodies manage day-to-day operations.
Manish Wasuja, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Specialist at UNICEF India, highlighted the crucial role states play in the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), a scheme that is closely linked to children’s health. While states are at varying stages of policy development, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has created a national O&M framework, and UNICEF can assist states in drafting or reviewing policies to overcome challenges. Emphasis was placed on ensuring source sustainability through rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge, along with decentralized and centralized O&M models for Single Village Schemes (SVS) and Multi-Village Schemes (MVS).
Financing O&M involves routine maintenance, energy charges management, flexible user charges, and tapping into financial resources like the 15th Finance Commission grants. Capacity building is essential, involving collaboration between Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and skilled local resources. Water quality monitoring, supported by NABL-accredited labs, is critical, alongside quick response protocols for contamination.
Pradeep Singh, Director of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Government of India, suggested leveraging political leadership to monitor JJM’s progress. He spoke of the significant investment of INR 45-50 billion under the Har Ghar Jal mission but said gaps existed in monitoring water service delivery. To address this, the Government of India plans to develop a Water Supply Monitoring App for real-time tracking of water supply across 600,000 villages.
The proposed app will allow users to report service disruptions, with data feeding into monthly reviews to monitor and resolve issues efficiently. The process involves nominating village-level individuals to report water supply information via the app, which will enhance transparency and accountability in water service delivery. This initiative is expected to improve the effectiveness of the Jal Jeevan Mission by ensuring continuous monitoring and timely corrective actions.
The session concluded with discussions that urged for a renewed focus towards enhancing O&M, enhancing community management and building capacity at the local level for sustainability of rural drinking water supply schemes.