Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Thursday said that around 80 per cent of households in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) areas have been connected with piped drinking water, while the government is adopting innovative measures to address water shortages in the state’s hilly and remote regions.

Speaking during the first day of the Monsoon Session of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, Dr. Saha said the remaining work would be completed soon as the state government is working towards ensuring access to drinking water in every village.

The issue of water scarcity in the ADC areas was raised by Tipra Motha Party MLA Ranjit Debbarma, who urged the government to take immediate measures to resolve the drinking water crisis faced by people in several areas.

Debbarma also referred to a road blockade in the Mungiakami hill area under West Tripura district, during which Minister Kishor Barman was reportedly stranded. He urged the government to address the drinking water-related problems of people in the affected areas.

Responding to the issue, Dr. Saha, who also holds the Drinking Water and Sanitation (DWS) portfolio, said water shortages continue to exist in some locations, particularly in hilly areas, because of geographical constraints and the unavailability of suitable groundwater sources.

The Chief Minister said conventional deep tubewells cannot be installed in several hilly locations. Therefore, the government is exploring innovative water supply solutions, particularly in the ADC areas.

He said water from canals and waterfalls is being utilised in suitable locations to provide drinking water to people living in remote and hilly areas.

Highlighting the progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Dr. Saha said that when the programme was launched in 2019, only around 3.26 per cent of rural households had piped water connections. The coverage has now increased substantially.

According to the Chief Minister, out of around 7.50 lakh households in the state, approximately 6.69 lakh households have been connected with piped water, taking overall coverage to around 86 per cent.

Dr. Saha said the government is aiming for 100 per cent piped drinking water coverage and has taken a series of steps to connect every village and household with a reliable water supply.

He further said the state government, in coordination with the Central Government, is working to ensure drinking water reaches every village and household across Tripura.

The average piped water coverage in the TTAADC region currently stands at around 80 per cent, the Chief Minister added.