Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has appealed to the central government to clear the pending dues under the Jal Jeevan Mission. According to the Chief Minister, the union government has effectively starved Karnataka of funds for over two years, despite making budgetary allocations for the mission.
Allegations of Fund Deprivation
Siddaramaiah stated that the state has not received its rightful share of funds under the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide tap water connections to every rural household. He emphasized that the central government's inaction has hindered the state's progress in achieving the mission's objectives.
Budgetary Allocations vs Actual Releases
The Chief Minister pointed out a significant disparity between the funds allocated in the union budget and the actual releases to Karnataka. He urged the Centre to release the pending amount at the earliest to ensure the continuity of water supply projects across the state.
Impact on Rural Households
The delay in fund release has affected thousands of rural households in Karnataka that are yet to receive tap water connections. Siddaramaiah highlighted that the state government has been proactive in implementing the scheme but is constrained by the lack of central funds.
The Chief Minister's appeal comes as part of a broader demand from several states for timely release of central funds under various schemes. The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in 2019, is a flagship program of the central government with the goal of providing functional household tap connections to all rural households by 2024.
Karnataka has been a key state in the mission's implementation, but the fund crunch has slowed down the pace of work. Siddaramaiah reiterated his government's commitment to the mission and called for the Centre's cooperation to meet the targets.
