Shillong, September 16: The Meghalaya government has intensified implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0, with greater emphasis on reliable household water supply, sustainability of water sources, water quality monitoring and digital management of schemes.
The Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department said rural household tap water coverage in the state has increased significantly from just 4,550 households, or 1%, in August 2019 to 5,47,869 households, or 84%, as of September 6, 2026. Meghalaya has a total of 6,50,854 rural households. The state currently has 7,795 JJM schemes, of which 6,195 have been physically completed.
As the mission enters its next phase, the department is focusing on ensuring that completed schemes provide regular, adequate and safe drinking water at the household level. Ground-level assessments are being carried out to identify gaps in water availability, regularity and adequacy, so that corrective measures can be taken.
The department is also strengthening operation and maintenance arrangements for completed schemes and developing a policy framework for the continued upkeep of water supply infrastructure.
Digital monitoring is another major focus under JJM 2.0. Scheme, asset and financial information is being consolidated to improve planning and reporting, while digital systems and asset mapping are being used to strengthen data accuracy and enable faster resolution of problems at the field level.
Community participation will continue to play a key role, with Village Water and Sanitation Committees being strengthened for scheme management and protection of water sources.
Under Meghalaya’s nationally recognised “Catchment-to-Tap” approach, the government has identified 785 critical water sources for rejuvenation and mapped around 55,000 springs across more than 70,000 spring sheds. The state is also advancing a Payment for Ecosystem Services model aimed at encouraging communities to protect water sources and forest ecosystems.
Under initiatives such as Meg ARISE, vulnerable catchments covering 180 villages are being restored to strengthen climate-resilient water sources and ensure the long-term sustainability of rural water supply systems.
Water quality monitoring is also being expanded through systematic testing and improved recording of results. The state has trained 31,829 women to conduct water quality testing using Field Test Kits, while laboratory and field-level testing continues across villages.
The PHE Department said the renewed emphasis on service delivery, accountability, community ownership and source sustainability is aimed at ensuring that every rural household in Meghalaya has access to safe, reliable and sustainable tap water.
