Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 Strengthens Rural Water Governance

Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 Strengthens Rural Water Governance

Why in the News ?

The Union Government has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland, and Puducherry under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 to improve rural drinking water supply and strengthen community-led water governance.

MoUs to Enhance Rural Drinking Water Access

• The Centre has entered into reform-linked agreements with four States and one Union Territory under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, ensuring compliance with environmental clearances and regulatory frameworks.
• The initiative aims to ensure safe, adequate, and regular drinking water supply to every rural household while maintaining a pollution free environment.
• The agreements focus on a Gram Panchayat-led, service-oriented, and community-centred model of water management, promoting environmental democracy through local participation.
• The programme seeks to improve long-term sustainability of rural water supply systems through local participation, accountability, and adherence to the precautionary principle in water resource management.
• Senior officials from the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) and state governments participated in the signing ceremony, emphasizing the importance of environmental impact assessment for water infrastructure projects.

Community Participation and Water Sustainability Measures

• The mission emphasizes active involvement of local communities in planning, operation, and maintenance of water infrastructure, following principles of environmental jurisprudence and sustainable development.
• Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil highlighted the role of the mission in reducing the burden of water collection, particularly for women and girls, while ensuring compliance with the EIA notification for new projects.
• The programme promotes water conservation and efficient use of water resources, incorporating the polluter pays principle to ensure accountability in water management.
• Key focus areas include rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, greywater management, and catchment area protection in accordance with the Forest Conservation Act and coastal regulation zone norms where applicable.
• Community-based water quality monitoring is being encouraged to ensure safe drinking water standards in rural areas, while addressing any ex post facto compliance requirements for existing infrastructure.
• The approach aims to improve water security while fostering sustainable resource management practices, drawing lessons from environmental jurisprudence including the Vanashakti judgment on participatory governance.