Pawan Kalyan directs swift completion of Jal Jeevan Mission projects, warns against quality lapses

Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, who also holds the portfolios of Panchayat Raj, Rural Development and Rural Water Supply, has directed officials to accelerate the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) projects, with a particular focus on areas facing acute drinking water shortages. He emphasised that quality standards must not be compromised during execution.

Reviewing the progress of the Amarajeevi Jaladhara mega water grid projects in the erstwhile East and West Godavari districts, Mr. Pawan Kalyan stated that the initiative would offer a permanent solution to drinking water woes in coastal villages. The projects are expected to benefit approximately 33 lakh residents across the two districts, he noted.

The Deputy Chief Minister instructed officials to ensure that all key infrastructure works are completed within the stipulated timeframes. He reviewed the status of intake wells, water treatment plants, reservoirs and pipeline networks with officials from the Rural Water Supply (RWS) Department. He expressed satisfaction with the current pace of work, which is being undertaken at an estimated total cost of ₹3,050 crore.

During the review, officials informed the Minister that the mega water grid project in the erstwhile East Godavari district, with an investment of ₹1,650 crore, aims to provide drinking water to nearly 20 lakh people across 10 Assembly constituencies. Construction of two intake wells and access bridges is currently under way. One of the planned water treatment plants, with capacities of 111 million litres per day (MLD) and 75 MLD respectively, is in the construction phase. The government has so far spent over ₹151 crore, and around 182 kilometres of pipelines have been laid.

In the erstwhile West Godavari district, the project is estimated to cost ₹1,400 crore and is expected to serve approximately 13.5 lakh people. Officials said work on an intake well, an access bridge and a water treatment facility with a capacity of 155 million litres is progressing steadily. More than 400 kilometres of pipelines have already been completed under the two projects combined, they added.

The Amarajeevi Jaladhara scheme was launched in December last year at Peravali in West Godavari district. It is designed to ensure a dependable supply of clean drinking water to rural households. Mr. Pawan Kalyan instructed officials to coordinate closely with other departments, including Roads and Buildings, the National Highways Authority, Panchayat Raj and Forest, wherever necessary, to avoid delays in obtaining clearances for pipeline work.

The Minister also directed project monitoring units at district headquarters to review progress regularly and submit reports to the State headquarters. He stressed the need to intensify work in water-scarce coastal villages and cautioned against any compromise on construction quality.

Mr. Pawan Kalyan said he would soon conduct field inspections of Jal Jeevan Mission projects across the State and oversee quality checks. He expressed confidence that these efforts would help achieve the goal of ensuring safe drinking water reaches every household, in line with the broader national objectives of the Jal Jeevan Mission.