India’s flagship rural drinking water initiative, the Jal Jeevan Mission, has significantly expanded tap water coverage in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh since its launch in August 2019, but full implementation remains a challenge, according to government data released on Monday.
Tap Water Coverage Surges in Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, the percentage of rural households with tap water connections has increased from 17.37 percent in 2019 to 88.48 percent as of March 13, 2025.
Over the past five years, the state has provided connections to around 89.08 lakh additional households, bringing the total to approximately 1.10 crore out of 1.25 crore rural households.
However, Tamil Nadu continues to face obstacles, including limited groundwater availability and the absence of perennial rivers.
The state has adopted a strategy of connecting villages through Combined Water Supply Schemes and Multi-Village Schemes, sourcing water from rivers and dams to address these challenges.
The state has also implemented performance-based maintenance contracts and an emergency response system for bulk water supply complaints.
Furthermore, 62,898 women have been trained to conduct field test kits for water quality testing in rural areas, enhancing community participation in monitoring water safety.
Andhra Pradesh Faces Delays in Implementation
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh has made strides in expanding water access but has yet to achieve universal coverage under JJM.
At the mission’s inception, 32.18 percent of rural households had tap water connections. Since then, an additional 39.77 lakh connections have been provided, bringing total coverage to 73.81 percent of the state’s 70.51 lakh rural households as of March 11, 2025.
Funding delays have hindered progress in Andhra Pradesh. The state government struggles to release matching funds required for program implementation. This shortfall has slowed execution, pushing the timeline for full coverage to March 2028, four years beyond the initial target of 2024.
Infrastructure Projects Underway in Palnadu
One of the key projects underway in Andhra Pradesh is the MVS in Palnadu district, which aims to supply drinking water from the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir. While 1.53 lakh households in Palnadu have received tap connections, 2.81 lakh remain to be covered. The government has also undertaken SVS projects to ensure full access in the district by 2028.
Despite setbacks, the Indian government has continued to support state efforts through planning reviews, technical assistance, and training initiatives under JJM. The mission aims to provide sustainable, safe, and sufficient drinking water to every rural household nationwide.
