New Delhi: The central government has doubled the allocation of funds to Gujarat under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in financial year 2020-21 compared to the previous year. Under JJM, the Centre allocated Rs 390.31 crore in FY2019-20, which has been increased to Rs 883.08 crore in FY2020-21. This information was provided by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Shri Ratanlal Kataria in Rajya Sabha on February 8, 2021 while replying to a question raised by Rajya Sabha Member Shri Parimal Nathwani.

According to the statement of the minister, Jal Jeevan Mission was announced on August 15, 2019 and 3.36 crore rural households have been provided tap water connections across the country so far. During this period, in Gujarat, 11.12 lakh rural households have been provided tap water connections.

Out of the Rs 390.31 crore allocated in FY2019-20 by the central government, the entire amount has been released to the state. Of the Rs 883.08 crore allocated in FY2020-21, the Centre has released Rs 662.76 crore as on 04 February 2021.

Shri Nathwani wanted to know about the total number of houses that have been provided tap connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission during the last two years and the number of houses that have been provided tap connections in the State of Gujarat during the said period.

According to the statement of the minister, out of the total fund released under JJM, Gujarat has reported total utilisation of Rs 384.61 crore in FY2019-20 and Rs 387.66 in FY2020-21 as on February 4, 2021.