The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti has called for stronger coordination between Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 and VB-G RAM G to ensure sustainable drinking water sources and improve rural water infrastructure management. The Centre has urged States and Union Territories to integrate village-level water action and source sustainability plans with Gram Panchayat development plans, using scientific assessments, groundwater recharge measures and geospatial planning tools. The proposed interventions include check dams, recharge shafts, rainwater harvesting, watershed treatment and restoration of traditional water bodies. Officials also emphasised using the JJM 2.0 Decision Support System and Yuktdhara tools to identify vulnerable water sources, prioritise investments and monitor outcomes. State experiences from Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Assam highlighted approaches to source protection, infrastructure maintenance and water-stress mapping. The initiative seeks to strengthen inter-departmental coordination and Gram Panchayat-led governance to improve the long-term reliability of rural drinking water supplies.
Source: The Economic Times