SHILLONG: In a major relief to contractors and stakeholders, the Union Government has assured that all pending bills under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Meghalaya will be cleared by February, easing long-standing financial bottlenecks affecting project implementation.
Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Minister Marquise N Marak disclosed this after attending a high-level policy dialogue in New Delhi, where Union Jal Shakti officials met PHED Ministers from various states to review progress and address operational challenges.
Raising concerns over delayed fund releases, Marak said unpaid bills had severely impacted contractors working under the mission.
“The Union Minister heard our concerns loud and clear and has assured that the Central Government will look into releasing the pending funds within this month of February,” he said.
Officials noted that the payment delays had slowed down project execution in several districts and created financial stress for local contractors.
Apart from fund disbursement, the meeting also focused on strengthening long-term Operation and Maintenance (O&M) mechanisms to ensure sustainability of water infrastructure.
Marak said the emphasis is now on ensuring uninterrupted water supply, improving day-to-day management and maximising long-term utility for rural households.
“The mission is moving beyond construction to ensuring that the infrastructure continues to serve people effectively,” he added.
Launched in 2019 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Jal Jeevan Mission has transformed drinking water access in Meghalaya. The state has moved from having one of the lowest coverage levels to becoming one of the fastest-growing performers in the region.
However, officials admitted that progress was recently affected due to funding constraints. With the Centre’s latest assurance, authorities expect stalled projects to regain momentum.
The state government expressed confidence that timely fund releases will help accelerate the “last-mile” delivery of household tap connections and ensure safe drinking water for rural families.
