The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Committee presented a report that revealed serious problems in the implementation of the Rs 13,000 crore 'Jal Jeevan Mission' scheme. According to the report, water supply exists only on paper, and in some areas, residents still have to hire horses to bring drinking water to their homes.
During the inspection, abandoned and scattered water pipes were discovered. The committee, consisting of 13 members and formed on April 9, 2024, following widespread allegations of irregularities, submitted its report at the J&K building on Monday.
The overall degree of work completion across the entire state was only 37.28 percent. Specifically, it was noted that most JJM schemes in Udhampur are 'classic examples of good paperwork contradicting ground reality,' and many schemes in Poonch exist solely in documents.
The report also pointed out the absence of reliable records presented to the committee regarding the details of purchased, used, and unused water pipes. Abandoned pipes were found during the committee's field inspections.
Furthermore, it was established that Panchayati Raj institutions are excluded from the implementation process of this scheme. The goal of the JJM scheme is to provide access to drinking water through taps to all rural households by 2024. Approximately 3253 water supply schemes worth about Rs 13,000 crore have been sanctioned in J&K.
The JJM scheme is financed under a 90:10 model between the Central Government and the J&K government. Representatives of the 'Jal Shakti' Department explained the delay in implementation in J&K by stating that initial progress was hampered after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. They noted that the administrative transition took about five months, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which further slowed down the rollout.
The department informed the committee that the model and methods used for implementing JJM in the rest of the country cannot be replicated in J&K due to 'complex geography, limited road connectivity, and a shortage of local skilled personnel.' It was noted that the tendering process only started gaining momentum after 2022.
Committee member Ajaz Ahmad Jan stated that despite significant investments, most rural households, especially in Rajouri and Poonch, still face difficulties in accessing safe drinking water, and no benefit has been derived from the scheme.