Guwahati, June 18 (IANS) Assam Public Health Engineering (PHE) Minister Krishnendu Paul on Thursday reviewed the progress of various drinking water supply projects being implemented under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Lower Assam during a high-level meeting held at Janata Bhawan here.

The review meeting was attended by senior officials of the Public Health Engineering Department, including engineers and district-level functionaries associated with the implementation of the flagship rural drinking water programme.

During the meeting, the minister took stock of the status of ongoing projects across districts in Lower Assam and assessed the pace of work being carried out under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Discussions focused on the completion of household tap water connections, infrastructure development, quality control measures and the timely execution of pending works.

Officials presented district-wise progress reports and briefed the minister on the challenges being faced in implementing the schemes, particularly in remote and geographically challenging areas.

The minister directed officials to ensure that all projects are completed within the stipulated timelines so that safe and adequate drinking water reaches every rural household.

Paul stressed the importance of maintaining construction quality and ensuring that the benefits of the centrally sponsored mission reach the intended beneficiaries without delay.

He also emphasised the need for regular monitoring and coordination among field-level officers to address bottlenecks and accelerate project implementation.

The minister reviewed the functioning of water supply schemes already commissioned under the mission and sought details regarding operational efficiency, maintenance mechanisms and consumer coverage.

He instructed officials to remain vigilant in monitoring project execution and ensure transparency in implementation.

The Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to every rural household, ensuring access to safe drinking water.

Assam has been undertaking extensive infrastructure development under the programme, with several projects currently at different stages of completion across the state.

The meeting concluded with directions to intensify efforts to achieve the mission’s targets and improve access to drinking water in rural areas of Lower Assam.

–IANS

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