New Delhi: A government panel has proposed a 46 per cent cut in the Union government’s funding assistance to the Jal Shakti Ministry’s demand for four years up to December 2028.

As a result, the onus for arranging this fund, amounting to be more than Rs. 1.25 lakh crore may fall on states, which may approach the Union Government, reported Indian Express.

“As many as 16 states are ruled by BJP and its allies and this may force the Centre’s hand,” said an official.

While the Jal Jeevan Mission, which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 aimed to provide tap connections to about 16 crore rural households to achieve saturation coverage by December end 2024, only 75 per cent of the target could be achieved.

To achieve the remaining target by 2028, the Jal Shakti Ministry had demanded Rs 2.79 lakh crore Central funds.

The Expenditure Secretary-chaired Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC), which appraises projects valued over Rs 500 crore, had met on March 13 and recommended only Rs 1.51 lakh crore.

The committee also reduced the mission’s overall outlay by Rs 41,000 crore to Rs 8.69 lakh crore, against Rs 9.10 lakh crore sought by the Jal Shakti Ministry.

“EFC only appraises the project; the concerned Ministry can still request for higher outlays and Central funds and the Union Cabinet can take a view different from the EFC,” an official told the newspaper.