LUCKNOW, Jan. 25 -- Uttar Pradesh has recorded a milestone under the Jal Jeevan Mission, with 26,564 villages certified as "Har Ghar Jal" by their respective Gram Panchayats, an official spokesperson said on Saturday. Functional household tap connections have been provided to nearly 2.5 crore rural families across the state so far. Officials said work is currently underway in more than 97,000 villages to extend tap water supply to every rural household. The state government has prioritised solar energy-based models to make rural drinking water schemes cost-effective and sustainable. About 80% of the 'Gramin Pipe Peyajal Yojana' in UP are now operating on green energy. More than 33,000 such schemes have been developed using solar power, resulting in reduced electricity expenditure, the spokesperson said. Officials said solar-based drinking water schemes are helping cut nearly 13 lakh metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. Ashok Kumar Meena, secretary, central government, conducted a field inspection of the Chand Sarai Gramin Pipe Peyajal Yojana in Gosainganj development block, operated by Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam Rural, Lucknow. He reviewed infrastructure including the tube well, pump house, overhead tank, over 6 km long distribution network, 486 functional household tap connections, a 17.50 kilowatt solar plant, DG set, and the chlorination and automation system under the scheme....