Telangana has emerged as the leading state in India for providing drinking water through tap connections in rural areas. The state achieved this milestone by 2021, making it the first among the larger states to reach 100 per cent tap water connectivity. This accomplishment was disclosed by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. The success is largely attributed to the Mission Bhagiratha scheme initiated by the BRS Government.
Among smaller states and Union Territories, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Goa also reached 100 percent tap water connectivity by 2020-21. However, Telangana stands out among the larger states, outperforming others like Punjab and Gujarat in providing safe drinking water to every rural household through tap connections.
In Telangana, with 53.98 lakh rural households, the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti confirmed that by 2020-21, all families had access to safe drinking water through tap connections. This was in response to questions posed by two members in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. Nationally, the average coverage of rural tap connections stands at 77.83 percent, with 11 states and UTs, including Telangana, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Puducherry, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, achieving 100 percent coverage.
In contrast, states like Rajasthan, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Kerala have lower coverage rates, with West Bengal at the bottom. Following West Bengal are Rajasthan, Kerala, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha, respectively.
The Telangana government has invested approximately Rs. 40,000 crores in the Mission Bhagiratha scheme, ensuring household water supply through an extensive network of pipelines. The state has successfully provided drinking water to every household in 24,000 villages and 65 towns, utilizing a 1.30 lakh km pipeline that connects the Krishna and Godavari rivers along with other reservoirs.
This achievement has inspired many other states to adopt similar models, with the Bhagiratha project serving as a blueprint for the Jal Jeevan Mission launched by the Central Government.