Kerala Sets Up 7-Member Panel for State Water Security Plan

Rapid Summary

• The Kerala government plans to create a ‘State Water Security Plan’ under the jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), aimed at functional household tap connectivity in rural areas.
• A committee comprising members from various departments such as Local Self-Governments, Irrigation, Ground Water, and forest has been constituted for deliberations.
• Deliberations are essential due to multiple stakeholders involved in managing surface and ground water resources for diverse needs like drinking water, irrigation, and power generation.
• Kerala currently ranks last in the national-level implementation of JJM with only 54.66% completion as per Union Jal Shakti Ministry data.
• Specific regions such as Wayanad (37.90%), Idukki (36.93%), and Kasaragod (32.62%) have the lowest implementation percentages within Kerala.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The proposal of a ‘State Water Security Plan’ underscores Kerala’s commitment to addressing its lagging performance in implementing the Jal Jeevan mission despite not being a water-scarce state. The formation of a multi-departmental committee reflects the complexity of managing interconnected resources like surface water and groundwater amidst diverse demands such as agriculture, drinking water supply, and power generation.

Kerala’s bottom-rank status nationally suggests systemic challenges in execution that require focused policy intervention and stakeholder coordination. While relief comes from an extension of JJM funds until 2028 through the union Budget proclamation, there is still meaningful work ahead to match other states’ achievements under this scheme. Progressive action on identifying bottlenecks at district levels could accelerate improvements where gaps remain stark.

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