Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Panchayat Raj, Rural Development and Rural Water Supply K. Pawan Kalyan has directed officials to accelerate the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) projects, particularly in areas facing severe drinking water shortages, while ensuring strict adherence to quality standards.

Reviewing the progress of the Amarajeevi Jaladhara mega water grid projects being implemented in the erstwhile East and West Godavari districts, Mr. Pawan Kalyan said the initiative would provide a permanent solution to drinking water problems in the coastal villages.

He said the projects were expected to benefit nearly 33 lakh people across the two districts, and instructed officials to ensure that key infrastructure works were completed within the stipulated timeframe.

The Deputy Chief Minister reviewed the progress of intake wells, water treatment plants, reservoirs and pipeline networks with officials of the Rural Water Supply (RWS) Department, and expressed satisfaction over the pace of works being undertaken at an estimated cost of ₹3,050 crore.

The oifficials informed the Minister that a mega water grid project worth ₹1,650 crore was being implemented in the erstwhile East Godavari district to provide drinking water to nearly 20 lakh people across 10 Assembly constituencies.

Construction of two intake wells and access bridges was currently under way, while one of the proposed water treatment plants, with capacities of 111 million litres per day (MLD) and 75 MLD respectively, was in the construction phase. The government had so far spent more than ₹151 crore, and about 182 kilometres of pipelines had already been laid.

The project in the erstwhile West Godavari district, with an estimated cost of ₹1,400 crore, was expected to provide drinking water to nearly 13.5 lakh people. Officials said work on an intake well, an access bridge and a water treatment facility with a capacity of 155 million litres was progressing steadily. More than 400 kilometres of pipelines had been completed under the two projects, officials added.

Mr. Pawan Kalyan said the Amarajeevi Jaladhara scheme had been launched in December last year at Peravali in West Godavari district to ensure a reliable supply of clean drinking water to rural households. He instructed officials to coordinate closely with departments such as Roads and Buildings, the National Highways Authority, the Panchayat Raj Department and the Forest Department, wherever necessary, to avoid delays in obtaining clearances for pipeline works.

The Minister also directed project monitoring units established at district headquarters to regularly review progress and submit reports to the State headquarters. He stressed the need to intensify work in water-scarce coastal villages and warned against compromising on construction quality.

Mr. Pawan Kalyan said he would soon undertake field inspections of Jal Jeevan Mission projects across the State and oversee quality checks to ensure that the objectives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi were achieved and that safe drinking water reached every household.