A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Centre and Tamil Nadu was signed on Tuesday for the extended implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 in the State. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay participated in the virtual meeting from the Secretariat in Chennai, while Union Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Patil took part from New Delhi.

The MoU for the JJM scheme, which provides functional household tap connections, was signed following the approval of the Union Cabinet to extend the scheme till December 2028. Under the first phase of the scheme, 46.71 lakh household tap connections were provided in the State, benefiting 1.86 crore people. Further, 45 new Multi Village Schemes (MVS), retrofitting works in 56 Combined Water Supply Schemes (CWSS), and 21,258 Single Village Schemes (SVS) were being implemented, according to an official release.

Under the first phase of the JJM, the approved outlay for the projects was ₹18,123.05 crore, of which the Union government’s share was ₹9,025.68 crore and the Tamil Nadu government’s share was ₹9,097.37 crore. With the signing of the MoU for the extended implementation of JJM 2.0, Tamil Nadu will initially receive ₹2,177.27 crore from the Centre’s Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS).

The extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission till 2028 reiterates the continued commitment of both the Union and State governments to ensuring safe and adequate drinking water supply to all rural households, the release said.

Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Railways V. Somanna, Chief Secretary M. Saikumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, and senior officials participated in the meeting.