GIS Mapping Boosts Jal Jeevan Mission Progress

The Union government has taken a major step to enhance the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) by integrating all drinking water assets into the PM Gati Shakti platform. This Geographic Information System (GIS)-based platform will enable precise mapping and management of rural water infrastructure. The move promises improved planning and monitoring of water supply schemes across India.

Integration of Jal Jeevan Mission with PM Gati Shakti

The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) signed a memorandum of agreement with Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N). BISAG-N developed the PM Gati Shakti platform under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. This partnership aims to create a GIS-integrated decision-support system for the Jal Jeevan Mission and the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).

Features and Benefits of GIS Mapping

The platform will map Rural Piped Water Supply Schemes (RPWSS) with unique scheme-level IDs. It enables granular monitoring of water delivery at household levels. Advanced tools like ground control surveying, digital photogrammetry, and thematic mapping will be used. This integration supports better resource allocation and faster infrastructure development in rural areas.

Data Management and Technical Support

BISAG-N will provide comprehensive support including database design, map creation, data migration, software development, and systems integration. The platform will link water and sanitation infrastructure with other sectors such as roads, railways, and logistics. This convergence aligns with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to optimise service delivery.

Current Status and Scale of the Jal Jeevan Mission

Since its launch in 2019, JJM has approved 6.41 lakh water supply schemes costing Rs 8.29 lakh crore. These schemes aim to provide tap water connections to 12.74 crore rural households. The mission targets supplying 55 litres per capita per day of potable water meeting BIS standards. Over Rs 3.91 lakh crore has been spent so far on implementation.

Extension and Funding Challenges

Though the mission was scheduled to end in 2024, it was extended till 2028 with increased funding announced in the 2025 budget. The Jal Shakti Ministry requested Rs 9.10 lakh crore for the extended period. However, the Empowered Finance Committee (EFC) recommended only Rs 1.51 lakh crore. The Cabinet approval for the extension is still pending.

Significance of GIS in Rural Water Supply

Mapping several lakh kilometres of pipelines laid under JJM will improve asset management. The GIS platform’s 200+ layers of infrastructure data will help integrate water supply with other rural development initiatives. This will enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency in water resource management.