The Government of Meghalaya on Friday entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Jal Jeevan Mission under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, even as the State, with over 83% rural households already connected, signalled a renewed push towards achieving universal access to safe drinking water, with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma asserting continued coordination with the Government of India for timely support and completion of the mission.
The agreement, signed via video conference in the presence of the Chief Minister and Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil, is expected to enable the release of Central funds linked to performance and service delivery benchmarks under the Jal Jeevan Mission, thereby reinforcing accountability frameworks and accelerating last-mile connectivity across rural Meghalaya.
The MoU places a strong emphasis on ensuring sustained functionality of water supply systems, with the State government assuming primary responsibility for implementation, monitoring, and long-term outcomes, even as the Centre extends financial and technical backing based on measurable progress.
“Attended the signing of the MoU between the Government of Meghalaya and the National Jal Jeevan Mission, reaffirming our commitment to provide safe drinking water to every household in Meghalaya,” the Chief Minister said.
“With over 83% rural households already connected, we will continue working closely with the Government of India to ensure timely support and successful completion of this mission,” he said.
“Grateful to the Government of India for its continued support as we move forward to improve water supply infrastructure and enhance the quality of life for our citizens,” he added.
Senior officials, including Secretary and Commissioner (PHE), Meghalaya, Pravin Bakshi, along with other officials, attended the programme, underscoring an intensified administrative push to strengthen Centre-State coordination and ensure time-bound execution of the mission’s targets.
