Allocation for Jal Jeevan Mission may be doubled in upcoming Budget

Ministry hopeful of uptick in activity; may take Rs 12k-crore loan from Nabard

Allocation for the Jal Jeevan Mission is expected to rise two-fold in the upcoming Union Budget to over Rs 22,000 crore, as the programme gathers momentum post the Covid-19 pandemic, according to sources.

The total allocation for the programme in financial year 2020-21 (FY21) was Rs 11,500 crore, up from Rs 10,000 crore in the previous year. So far, about Rs 7,050 crore worth of expenditure has been incurred.

The Jal Shakti Ministry is expecting “a dramatic improvement” in the household tap connections in the January-March 2021 period, and it will utilise the rest the remaining funds.

“Physical progress usually