NEW DELHI:
Uttar Pradesh jal shakti minister Swatantra Dev Singh will soon visit villages across Bundelkhand and Vindhya to assess the on-ground progress of the
, with a focus on verifying whether the “Har Ghar Jal” (tap water to every home) target has been met in these drought-prone regions.The decision was taken during a high-level review meeting on Tuesday, where it was resolved that the inspection will be conducted in phases, beginning with nine districts. Singh will directly interact with residents and collect feedback on the implementation of the scheme, especially in areas that historically faced severe drinking water shortages before 2017.During the meeting, Singh instructed officials to draw up a comprehensive visit plan and provide a district-wise list of villages where “Har Ghar Jal” has been achieved. Emphasising strict accountability, he warned that any negligence or irregularities by implementing agencies would lead to severe consequences. “Strict action, including jail for those responsible,” will follow if lapses are found, he said, adding that third-party inspections will be carried out and daily progress reports submitted to the government.The meeting was also attended by minister of state for Jal Shakti Ramkesh Nishad, additional chief secretary of Namami Gange and Rural Water Supply Anurag Srivastava, and senior officials from the department.Meanwhile, Srivastava flagged delays in the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission projects in Mirzapur. He directed officials to probe the performance of two implementing agencies, Ramki Baba and Megha and take appropriate action if discrepancies emerge. ADMs and Executive Engineers have been tasked with intensified block-level monitoring to speed up water supply projects.