Tamil Nadu Seeks Central Funds for Jal Jeevan Mission Implementation
Tamil Nadu Minister for Municipal Administration and Water Supply K.N. Nehru, accompanied by a delegation of MPs and senior officials, met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Monday.
The delegation requested the release of funds due to the State for implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission, a flagship initiative aimed at ensuring rural households have access to potable water through functional tap connections.
Jal Jeevan Mission: A Critical Initiative
The Jal Jeevan Mission, jointly funded by the Central and State governments, aims to enhance rural access to piped drinking water. Under this program, the Centre contributes 50% of the funds for household connections, while the State provides the remaining share. For associated activities, the Centre’s contribution increases to 60%, with the State funding the rest.
In Tamil Nadu, the mission is executed through the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board and the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department. The State is awaiting the release of funds for both the previous and current fiscal years, which are essential to advancing the project’s objectives.
Delegation Strength and Appeal
The delegation included prominent figures such as Tamil Nadu’s Special Representative in Delhi A.K.S. Vijayan and MPs Kanimozhi, Tiruchi N. Siva, T.M. Selvaganapathy, and others. The request emphasized the critical role of central funds in sustaining progress toward achieving universal tap water coverage in rural areas.
Focus on Commercial Tax Reforms
In a separate meeting, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu met Ms. Sitharaman to discuss the restructuring of the State’s Commercial Taxes Department. Senior officials from the department accompanied him, and the meeting was described as a courtesy call.
The restructuring plan involves leveraging data analytics expertise from IIT-Hyderabad to curb tax evasion and adapt to changes following the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Officials emphasized the importance of modernizing the department to improve efficiency and revenue collection.
These efforts underline Tamil Nadu’s commitment to advancing public welfare programs and enhancing administrative efficiency through strategic partnerships and reforms.
