Jal Shakti Mission in J&K: House Committee recommends high‑level inquiries into irregularities

Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar, Sep 21: The House Committee of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, constituted to examine alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), has flagged widespread administrative, technical and execution‑related lapses in the programme and recommended a series of measures including high‑level inquiries and comprehensive physical and financial audits of water supply schemes across the Union Territory.

According to the committee’s report, its findings are based on seven meetings held over more than a year, examination of departmental records, public complaints and representations, interactions with civil society members and officials, and spot inspections of various water supply schemes.

The report states that out of 3253 Water Supply Schemes (WSS), involving expenditure of around Rs 7,000 crore, 63 percent were found non‑operational, while even among the remaining 37 percent claimed by the Jal Shakti Department to be functional, several schemes were not fully operational.

The committee also disputed departmental claims regarding the number of Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs), stating that field visits indicated the actual number of households receiving safe drinking water was lower than reflected in official records, with raw water being supplied in some locations while filtration plants remained non‑functional.

The report held that despite the establishment of multiple monitoring bodies including an Apex Level Committee, Executive Committee, Mission Directorate and District Jal Jeevan Missions, these mechanisms failed to discharge responsibilities effectively, leading to deficiencies in planning, execution, financial monitoring and supervision, which the committee linked to “gross negligence” within the administrative machinery.

It also questioned the 2023 decision to replace GI pipes with HDPE pipes in Jammu Division without proper revision of DPRs, estimating that HDPE pipes worth Rs 600 crore were procured, contributing to financial losses and delays.

As per report, field visits revealed pipes lying scattered and abandoned at several locations in Poonch, Udhampur, Reasi and Budgam, with no credible records of procurement and utilisation, exposing public material to theft and misuse. Civil works were flagged for being executed without confirming water source sustainability, with examples such as Lalpora Chatlam, Munpora OHT and Parigam cited, while service reservoirs were reportedly constructed on riverbeds without adequate piling.

The committee further alleged that distribution pipes were laid above ground instead of underground, exposing them to damage and theft, and questioned the inclusion of nearly completed schemes under JJM retrofitting, which delayed commissioning and escalated costs.

Among its key recommendations, the committee called for high‑level inquiries into irregularities, comprehensive audits of all JJM and retrofitting schemes, mandatory technical validation of water sources before civil works, independent laboratory testing of pipes through NABL‑accredited labs, stronger inventory management and secured storage of materials, greater involvement of PRIs and Pani Samities, geo‑tagged verification of tap connections and infrastructure, measures to prevent sub‑letting of contracts and mechanisms for timely completion of schemes.

It further recommended an inter‑departmental committee to resolve litigation affecting water supply schemes and said that if inquiries establish omissions or commissions warranting criminal investigation, the UT Government should refer such cases to investigating agencies and take action under law—(KNO)