Tripura CM Dr Manik Saha announces nearly 80% piped water coverage in TTAADC areas, promising 100% household access soon through Jal Jeevan Mission and innovative water supply solutions.
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Thursday informed the State Legislative Assembly that nearly 80 per cent of households in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) region have been connected with piped drinking water, highlighting the government’s efforts to expand access to safe and reliable water supplies across tribal and hilly areas.
Dr. Saha, who also holds the Drinking Water and Sanitation (DWS) portfolio, made the statement on the opening day of the Monsoon Session of the state Assembly. He assured legislators that the remaining uncovered households would be connected soon as the government continues its efforts to provide drinking water facilities to every village in Tripura.
The issue was raised by Tipra Motha Party MLA Ranjit Debbarma, who drew attention to continuing water shortages in several areas under the autonomous district council. He referred to a recent road blockade in the Mungiakami hills of West Tripura district, during which Minister Kishor Barman was reportedly stranded, and urged the government to respond to the concerns of residents facing difficulties due to inadequate water supply.
Responding to the concerns, Dr. Saha acknowledged that geographical conditions pose significant challenges in providing drinking water to some remote and hilly settlements. In several locations, conventional deep tube wells cannot be installed because groundwater conditions are unsuitable.
The Chief Minister said the government is therefore adopting alternative and innovative approaches to address the problem. Water sources such as canals and waterfalls are being explored and utilised in difficult terrains to ensure that remote communities are not left without access to safe drinking water.
Dr. Saha also highlighted the progress made under the Jal Jeevan Mission, which was launched in 2019 with the objective of providing functional piped drinking water connections to rural households. According to the Chief Minister, rural piped water coverage in Tripura stood at only 3.26 per cent when the programme began.
The coverage has increased substantially since then. Around 6.69 lakh households out of approximately 7.50 lakh families across the state have now been connected with piped drinking water, taking overall coverage to about 86 per cent.
Within the TTAADC region, the average household coverage currently stands at around 80 per cent. Dr. Saha described the progress as an important milestone while reiterating that the government remains committed to achieving complete coverage.
He said coordinated efforts with the Central Government are continuing to accelerate the expansion of drinking water infrastructure and reach households that remain outside the piped water network.
The Chief Minister further stressed that tribal and hilly areas would remain a priority because residents in these regions face some of the greatest challenges in accessing conventional water sources.
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The government’s stated objective is to achieve 100 per cent piped drinking water coverage across Tripura. The latest Assembly assurance indicates that the administration intends to intensify efforts in the remaining uncovered areas, particularly remote settlements within the TTAADC, to ensure wider access to safe drinking water.
