Shillong, Sept 16: Meghalaya’s rural tap water coverage under Jal Jeevan Mission has jumped from just 1% in 2019 to 84% now, the PHE department said on Wednesday, while announcing a shift in focus under JJM 2.0 towards reliable service, sustainability and digital monitoring.
According to the department, coverage has increased from 4,550 households in August 2019 to 5,47,869 households as of September 6, 2026, out of a total of 6,50,854 rural households. Of the 7,795 JJM schemes in the state, 6,195 have been physically completed.
With the Mission entering its next phase, the department said the priority is to ensure that infrastructure created translates into regular, adequate and safe water at the household level. Ground-level assessments are being carried out to check tap functionality, regularity of supply and gaps needing corrective action.
The department is also strengthening operation and maintenance (O&M) arrangements, including a policy framework for upkeep of assets and sustained service delivery post-completion. Scheme, asset and financial data is being consolidated to improve financial closure, reporting and planning through digital systems and asset mapping for faster resolution of field issues.
Community ownership remains central to JJM 2.0. The role of Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) is being strengthened for scheme management and source protection as per Ministry of Jal Shakti guidelines.
The state’s “Catchment-to-Tap” model continues to drive its water security strategy. As part of this, 785 critical water sources have been identified for rejuvenation and around 55,000 springs mapped across over 70,000 spring sheds.
The department is also pushing a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) model to incentivise communities to protect sources and forests.
Under MegARISE, vulnerable catchments in 180 villages are being restored to build climate-resilient water sources, linking household supply with long-term protection of catchments.
On water quality, the department said monitoring is being intensified through systematic testing and timely remedial action. As many as 31,829 women have been trained across villages to test water using Field Test Kits, alongside laboratory and field-level testing.
The PHE Department said Meghalaya is positioning JJM 2.0 as a model for resilient rural water supply, with emphasis on service delivery, accountability, community ownership and source sustainability.
