Every household to have access to drinking water by 2024: Jal Shakti Minister

Every household in India will have access to drinking water by 2024 under the Jal Jeewan Mission, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Jal Shakti Minister has said.
The minister made the remark at an event titled "Water Impact Initiative & Ambassadors' Dialogue with Minister of Jal Shakti" in the presence of Ambassadors & Diplomats from many countries including Australia, Germany, & France.
Shekhawat said, "You would have heard in the media that the Govt. of India has launched the Jal Jeewan Mission which aims to invest nearly Rs. 3.5 lakh crore over the next few years to bring access to drinking water to all households by the year 2024".

UP Singh, Secretary in the Ministry of Jal Shakti & Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, Director General of National Mission for Clean Ganga were also present on the occasion.

The minister said, "Our PM, Narendra Modi Ji has said that our efforts have to quadruple in all forms from those that have been made in the last 70 years. That is because water has remained an under-invested category in our country resulting in many challenges, to solve which requires a long journey but we are not afraid of that & have started to move with rapid pace towards the goal of providing water to all".

To achieve water security the Ambassadors & Diplomats present at the meeting shared experiences of their countries.
Water is not only a strategic goal but also a matter of human rights & requires a collective effort by all countries if the 2030 SDG agenda is to be met, said Daniel Chuburu, the Argentina Ambassador to India.

The Australian High Commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu referred to the fact that although Australia is the driest inhabited continent in the world, it is still one of the leading agricultural producers in the world due to judicious water management.
Australia has a deep commitment to working with India on the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, she said.
Walter Lindner,  the German Ambassador to India, mentioned Germany's partnership in the Namami Gange programme by supporting the Ganga Quest, Ganga Box, Rain Water Harvesting etc.

The Israeli Ambassador to India, Ron Malka, pointed out that it is essential to make a distinction between water sources & uses.

He said, "We see ourselves as a water respectful culture".
Diplomats from other countries also spoke of river cleaning initiative in their countries & the benefits of 'twinning' with these efforts.

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