NEW DELHI, JUN 16 (PTI): About Rs 1.74 lakh crore in tied grants earmarked for water and sanitation under the 16th Finance Commission (FC) can be utilised for strengthening rural drinking water and sanitation services, including operation and maintenance of water supply systems, the Ministry of Jal Shakti said on Tuesday.
The allocation forms part of the over Rs 4.35 lakh crore grants under the 16th FC, with 50 per cent of the basic grants tied to water and sanitation-related activities, according to a presentation made during the ninth District Collectors’ Peyjal Samvad organised by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS).
The funds can be utilised for source strengthening, chlorination, repair and maintenance of water supply systems, water quality monitoring, procurement of testing kits, payment of operators and meeting energy requirements. The grants can also support sanitation-related activities, including maintenance of community sanitation assets, waste management systems, greywater management and construction of toilets and related infrastructure.
Presenting on the role of the 16th FC grants, National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM) Director Y K Singh said the resources should be aligned with the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) to ensure effective operation and maintenance and long-term functionality of assets created in rural areas. He highlighted that with significant progress achieved under JJM, the focus has shifted from infrastructure creation to sustained service delivery, with gram panchayats playing a central role in managing in-village water supply systems, water quality and sanitation infrastructure.
The presentation emphasised effective planning and utilisation of the grants through gram panchayat development plans (GPDPs), approved by gram sabhas and monitored through eGram Swaraj and the public financial management system (PFMS).
States and local bodies were advised to ensure timely utilisation of funds, adherence to audit and reporting requirements and proper planning to avoid delays in fund release.
The Peyjal Samvad, held through video conferencing, brought together senior officials, district collectors, deputy commissioners and state mission teams to deliberate on accelerating implementation of JJM 2.0 and sharing best practices.
Addressing the meeting, DDWS Secretary Ashok K K Meena stressed the importance of conducting monthly District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM) meetings, participating in the annual Jal Seva Aankalan assessment process and organising Jal Arpan ceremonies for the formal handover of completed water supply schemes to gram panchayats.
NJJM Additional Secretary and Mission Director Kamal Kishore Soan said source sustainability must remain a key priority and called for greater convergence with departments involved in water conservation, groundwater recharge, irrigation and water resources.
He also emphasised effective utilisation of FC grants and urged districts to link available resources with priorities identified through district improvement plans to strengthen service delivery and ensure sustainable operation and maintenance of rural water supply schemes.
During the Samvad, five districts — Una in Himachal Pradesh, Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, Yamuna Nagar in Haryana, Sivasagar in Assam and Sepahijala in Tripura — presented innovative practices and field experiences under JJM 2.0.
The districts showcased initiatives ranging from groundwater recharge and source sustainability to community-led operation and maintenance, women-led management of water supply schemes, tariff collection systems and digital monitoring mechanisms.
Friday, June 19, 2026