Imphal, June 10 (IANS) The Manipur government and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi to implement Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 in the state.

Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who attended the MoU signing ceremony, said Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 represents a strategic restructuring of the national rural drinking water programme.

“Its primary focus has shifted from the rapid creation of infrastructure to ensuring long-term and sustainable service delivery,” the Chief Minister said.

Singh highlighted that the key features of JJM 2.0 include assured service delivery, the Sujalam Bharat digital framework, clearly defined operation and maintenance (O&M) policies, measures for source sustainability, reform-linked funding, and community ownership. These features, he said, would transform the mission from a government scheme into a key instrument for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047.

The Chief Minister also praised the Ministry of Jal Shakti for its efforts in formulating the mission’s guidelines. Reaffirming the state government’s commitment, Singh assured full support for the effective implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 in Manipur. He said the state government would work towards achieving the mission’s objectives in both letter and spirit.

Later, in a Facebook post, Singh said the Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 signifies a transformative shift from infrastructure creation to ensuring sustainable and assured drinking water service delivery to rural households. He added that with its focus on source sustainability, community participation, strengthened operation and maintenance systems, and digital governance, the mission will play a vital role in advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047.

He also expressed his appreciation to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti for its continued support and commitment towards strengthening rural water supply infrastructure. “The government of Manipur remains steadfast in its resolve to implement the mission effectively and ensure safe and reliable drinking water access for every eligible household across the state,” Singh stated.

The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Union Minister of Jal Shakti, C.R. Patil; Deputy Chief Minister and Minister-in-charge of Public Health Engineering (PHE), Losii Dikho; Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ashok K.K. Meena; and other senior officials.

–IANS

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