With the view to provide universal coverage of water supply to all households through functional taps, the centre Government had announced Jal Jeevan Mission. Himachal Government has made rigorous efforts to ensure successful implementation of the scheme in the state. With the efforts of the State Government as many as 7.93 houses have been connected with tapped drinking water in last two years through Jal Shakti Vibhag, which is more than 7.63 lakh taps that have been installed in last 72 years.
The State Government has made great strides in providing safe tapped water in Himachal Pradesh and aims to connect every household of the state with tapped drinking water by the year 2022, while the National target is to provide tapped water by the year 2024. Under Jal Jeevan Mission, adequate amount of safe drinking water is being provided in the state. The Jal Shakti Vibhag has set up 14 district level and 42 sub division level water testing laboratories to ensure safe water supply, out of which 37 laboratories have been certified by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration laboratories (NABL). A State level laboratory is also being set up, where water samples would be tested for physical, chemical and micro organisms on standards of National Bureau to ensure safe drinking water.
Under Jal Gunvatta and Sanrakshan theme, the Jal Shakti Vibhag had organized various programs as part of Golden Jubilee celebrations of Statehood. In the last two years 3,71,080 water samples have been tested. A campaign was also launched in June and October, 2021 to increase sampling of water in the state. In these two months 64,701 water samples were tested in laboratories and 54,394 water samples were tested through field testing. The state government has successfully ensured connectivity of potable tapped drinking water in every nook and corner of the state. With the efforts of the government, Tashigang Village of Lahaul and Spiti District, the country’s highest polling station has also been connected with tapped water. Himachal Pradesh has also secured first place in the country in providing adequate potable drinking water through functional household tap.
