Access to clean water is a fundamental right crucial for public health and development, especially in rural India. The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) launched by the Government of India in 2019 aims to provide piped water to all rural households by 2024, with Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) being a key component.

In Karnataka, significant progress has been made in providing tap water connections to rural homes. As of August 15, 2019, 24.23% (Map.1) of households had tap water connections, which has since increased to 74.60% in February 2024.

FHTC implementation in Karnataka is crucial for addressing water scarcity and improving rural life. District-wise data analysis helps assess progress and challenges, informing strategies for better implementation.

The aim of the study is to identify the differences between estimated and actual tap water connections in different districts of Karnataka State. The data has been collected from the official JJM website. For data analysis, simple statistical techniques like percentage, average, ordinary least square regression methods have been used. Graphs, maps are also used for data analysis.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Based on the current status of the Jal Jeevan Mission report, the map shows that Gadag (99.99%), Dharwadh (99.12%) and Chamarajanagara (91.63%) districts emerge as the top three with tap water connections exceeding 90%. Contrary, districts like Kolar (40.47%), Bengaluru urban (40.62%) exhibit tap water connections below 50%. Notably, a trend emerges where most northern karnataka districts demonestarte medium tap water connections compared to theor southern counterparts.

The implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission scheme in Karnataka has followed a phased approach to ensure systematic coverage and efficient utilization of resources.

This includes promoting community ownership, leveraging technology for efficient water management, and integrating water supply planning with broader rural development initiatives.

In examining the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), it's crucial to highlight the prioritized areas for providing potable tap water. The mission targets communities dealing with water quality issues, Japanese Encephalitis/Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (JE/AES) affected regions, aspirational districts, drought-prone and desert areas, SC/ST majority villages, and Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) villages, emphasizing its commitment to serving vulnerable and marginalized populations.

The present study, evaluate functional tap water connections based on groundwater pH value and annual rainfall. The ordinary least square method has been used to estimate the share of tap water connections for Karnataka State. Inaddition to this, the study also identify the regions where there is a disparity between low current tap water connections and higher estimated shares of water connections. This analysis sheds light on districts lacking adequate tap water connections.

According to Ground water report of Karnataka 2020, in Bidar and Gulbarga, where the pH values are below 8, the groundwater may be slightly acidic or neutral, potentially indicating natural geological processes or localized contamination sources. On the other hand, in Udupi, Daksinakannada and Chamarajanagar, where the pH values are above 8.6, the groundwater may be alkaline, possibly influenced by geological formations or human activities such as agriculture, urbanization or industrial operations. Finally the result indicates that nearly all districts, with the exception of a few, exhibit normal ground water ph values.

The average annual rainfall from 2015 to 2021 in Karnataka State shows that North and Hyderabad Karnataka, including districts such as Belgaum, Bagalkote, Raichur, Gadag, Koppal, and Bellary, along with some South districts like Tumkur and Mandya, have an average annual rainfall of less than 700 mm. Most of the southern districts, including Bangalore Rural and Urban, Kolar, Ramanagara, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, and Hassan, experience annual rainfall ranging from 700 to 1400 mm. On the other hand, coastal districts like Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, and Udupi receive very high rainfall, exceeding 2800 mm.

Based on this analysis, the study estimates the probability of the share of tap water connections and then compares that estimated result with the actual share of ground water connections using the ordinary least square method.

In the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method, the standard residual represents the difference between the observed value and the predicted value of the dependent variable, divided by the standard deviation of the residuals. It indicates how many standard deviations away from the predicted value the observed value is. Essentially, it measures the extent to which each data point deviates from the regression line.

A high standard residual typically indicates that the observed value is higher than the predicted value, suggesting that the model overestimated the outcome for that particular data point. A negative standard residual in the context of Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression indicates that the observed value is lower than the predicted value.

The above map and table of the OLS regression show that only a few districts exhibit similarities between estimated and actual tap water connections. Another significant point is that most of the negative values, indicating where the predicted value is much higher than the actual value, are

observed in several southern districts, namely Kolar, Bangalore Rural and Urban, Tumkur, Chikkaballapura, and Hassan. On the other hand, maximum northern districts have higher standard residuals, indicating less predicted value than actual value.

The present study emphasizes the significance of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Karnataka, which aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to rural households. By analyzing district-wise tap water distribution and employing the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method, several noteworthy findings have been uncovered.

The study identifies certain districts like Gadag, Dharwad, and Chamarajanagara, which have made commendable progress in tap water connection implementation. This success is attributed to factors such as efficient resource allocation, early project initiation, infrastructure development, community engagement, and strategic planning. However, further investigation is necessary to comprehensively understand the diverse factors influencing implementation outcomes.

Furthermore, the research sheds light on disparities in tap water connection access across regions. While Northern Karnataka demonstrates successful implementation efforts, with actual tap water connections exceeding estimations, Southern and Coastal districts face challenges, with actual performance falling short of estimations.

These findings underscore the urgent need for policymakers and scholars to address implementation disparities and enhance program efficacy. As the JJM aims for 100% tap water connections by December 2024, bridging these gaps is crucial to achieving this ambitious target and ensuring equitable access to clean water for all rural households in Karnataka.

Jal Jeevan Mission - Har Ghar Jal https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjmreport/JJMState.aspx Dynamic Groundwater Resources of Karnataka March - 2020 https://cgwb.gov.in/sites/default/files/MainLinks/Karnataka_State_Report_Resource_2020.pdf Agricultural Census Rainfall and Sample check on Developmental Programmes (ARC) https://des.karnataka.gov.in/info2/Agricultural+Census++Rainfall+and+Sample+check+on+Developmental+Programmes+(ARC)/Reports/en What is a least-squares adjustment? https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/3.1/help/data/parcel-editing/what-is-a-least-squares-adjustment.htm