Why in News:

The central government approved 735 drinking water supply schemes of the Uttar Pradesh government to provide piped potable water in water-stressed areas like Vindhya and Bundelkhand.

Key Points:

=> To speed up the implementation of Jal Shakti Mission, the State Level Plan Approval Committee (SLSSC) has approved the proposals of Rs 1,882 crore submitted by the state for provision of tap water connections in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh.

=> These schemes will cover a population of about 39 lakhs in 1,262 villages in 33 districts.

• The committee approved 735 schemes. Under the approval, 4.03 lakh rural families of the state would be given tap water connections.

=> Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has assured full assistance to the state to make provision of tap water supply to every rural household by 2024.

=> So far, 34 lakh rural households out of 2.64 crore in the state are getting tap water in their homes.

• The state plans to provide tap water connections to over 78 lakh households in 2021-22.

=> The state government will start providing tap water to every household in hundreds of villages in Bundelkhand and Vindhya region from next month.

• For this, trials are being done in many areas.

=> Under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), there is a provision to constitute a State Level Plan Approval Committee (SLSSC) for the consideration and approval of the schemes to be made for provision of tap water supply to rural households.

=> SLSSC acts as a state level committee to consider water supply schemes/projects with the nominee of National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM) of Government of India.