Parliament Question: Rural Households with FHTCs in Kerala

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2996 ANSWERED ON 06/08/2026 RURAL HOUSEHOLDS WITH FHTCs IN KERALA

2996. ADV K. FRANCIS GEORGE:

Will the Minister of Jal Shakti be pleased to state:

(a) the total number of rural households provided with Functional Household Tap Connections

(FHTCs) in Kerala under the Centrally sponsored schemes implemented by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation in partnership with the State Governments through local self- governments;

(b) the measures taken to approve special fiscal relaxations for local bodies facing difficulties in clearing pending contractor bills amounting to Rs. 3,461 crore as on June 2024;

(c) whether the Government has conducted any independent audit on the quality and continuity of safe drinking water supply across rural Gram Panchayats and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the total amount of funds remaining unutilised by the States from the Basic Grants allocated under the Fifteenth Finance Commission for sanitation and water services, State-wise; and

(e) the timeline by which the Government expects to provide safe drinking water to the remaining rural households facing severe drinking water scarcity? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA)

(a), (b) & (e) Drinking Water being a State subject, it is the States, who plan, design, approve and implement drinking water supply schemes. Government of India supplements the efforts of the States by providing technical and financial assistance.

Since August 2019, Government of India, in partnership with States/UTs has been implementing JJM – Har Ghar Jal to make provision of tap water supply to every rural household of the country. The Union Cabinet has approved extension of the JJM up to December 2028, with an enhanced outlay and a restructured implementation framework focusing on structural reforms in the rural drinking water supply sector under JJM 2.0. The Page 1 of 3total outlay of the mission has been increased from Rs 3.60 lakh crore to Rs. 8.69 lakh crore with enhancement of total central assistance from Rs 2.08 lakh crore to Rs 3.59 lakh crore.

At the time of announcement of the JJM, only 16.64 lakh (23.52%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections in the State of Kerala. So far, as reported by the State as on 18.07.2026, around 22.38 lakh additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as on 18.07.2026, out of 70.76 lakh rural households in the State, around 39.02 lakh (55.14%) households are reported to have tap water connections in their homes. During FY 2026-27, the State Government of Kerala has been allocated Rs. 4,401.66 crore under JJM 2.0

(c) The Department undertakes assessment of the functionality of household tap water connections provided under the Mission, through an independent third-party agency, selected based on standard statistical sampling. During the Functionality Assessment, 2024, it was found that 98.1% of households in surveyed villages had tap connections; 87% of households with tap connections reported receiving water in the past week, indicating overall progress;

84% households receive water as per schedule; 80% households found receiving the minimum 55 LPCD water; 76% households found free from bacteriological contamination and 81% households of the supply source found free from chemical contamination and considering the parameters of quantity, quality and regularity, 76% of household tap connections were found to be functional.

(d) The Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) submitted an Interim Report (2020–21) and a Final Report (2021–26). It recommended Rs. 2.36 lakh crore for Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) in 28 States during 2021–26, including Fifth and Sixth Schedule and excluded areas. Of this, 60% (Rs. 1.42 lakh crore) was earmarked as tied grants for drinking water (including rainwater harvesting and water recycling) and sanitation/maintenance of ODF status, with Rs. 0.71 lakh crore allocated to each. Grants are released based on prescribed eligibility criteria and are to be used only for water and sanitation activities.

As recommended by 15th Finance Commission, year wise and State wise details of the allocation of Tied grants are at Annex.

Entire amount of Rs. 30,375 crore allocated for FY: 2020-21 was released to States, while for the period 2021-26, out of ₹ 1.42 Lakh crore allocated to States, around ₹ 1.33 Lakh crore (approx 94%) has been released to States. The Finance Commission period has ended on

31.03.2026 therefore, the pending amount of the States has lapsed with the completion of Fifteenth Finance Commission cycle. ***** Page 2 of 3Annexure Annex referred in reply to part (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2996 answered on 06.08.2026 Details of Tied Grants allocated under the Fifteenth Finance Commission from 2020-21 to 2025-26 (Rs in crore) Sr. 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 State No. Allocation Allocation Allocation Allocation Allocation Allocation 1 Andhra Pradesh 1,312.5 1,163.40 1,206 1,218.6 1,291.2 1,259.4 2 Arunachal Pradesh 115.5 102 106.2 107.4 113.4 111 3 Assam 802 711.6 736.8 744.6 789 769.8 4 Bihar 2,509 2,225.40 2,305.2 2,330.4 2,468.4 2,407.2 5 Chhattisgarh 727 645 668.4 675 715.2 697.8 6 Goa 37.5 33 34.2 34.8 37.2 36.6 7 Gujarat 1,597.5 1,417.20 1,467.6 1,483.8 1,571.4 1,533 8 Haryana 632 561 580.8 587.4 621.6 606.6 9 Himachal Pradesh 214.5 190.2 197.4 199.2 211.2 205.8 10 Jharkhand 844.5 749.4 775.8 784.2 831 810.6 11 Karnataka 1,608.5 1,426.20 1,477.8 1494 1,582.2 1,543.2 12 Kerala 814 721.8 747.6 756 800.4 780.6 13 Madhya Pradesh 1992 1,766.40 1830 1,849.8 1959 1911 14 Maharashtra 2,913.5 2,584.20 2,676.6 2,706 2,865.6 2,795.4 15 Manipur 88.5 78.6 81 82.2 87 85.2 16 Meghalaya 91 81 84 84.6 89.4 87.6 17 Mizoram 46.5 41.4 42.6 43.2 45.6 44.4 18 Nagaland 62.5 55.2 57.6 58.2 61.2 59.4 19 Odisha 1,129 1,001.40 1,036.8 1,048.2 1,110.6 1,083 20 Punjab 694 615.6 637.2 644.4 682.8 666 21 Rajasthan 1,931 1,712.40 1,774.2 1,793.4 1,899.6 1,852.2 22 Sikkim 21 18.6 19.8 19.8 21 19.8 23 Tamil Nadu 1,803.5 1,599.60 1,656.6 1,674.6 1,774.2 1,730.4 24 Telangana 923.5 819 849 858 908.4 886.2 25 Tripura 95.5 84.6 88.2 88.8 94.2 91.8 26 Uttar Pradesh 4,876 4,324.80 4,479.6 4,528.2 4,796.4 4,678.2 27 Uttarakhand 287 255 264 267 282.6 274.8 28 West Bengal 2,206 1,956.60 2,026.8 2,049 2,170.2 2,116.8 Total 30,375 26,940.60 27,907.8 28,210.8 29,880 29,143.8 Page 3 of 3