India Slaps ₹129.27 Cr in Penalties on 7 States for Jal Jeevan Mission Irregularities
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The Centre has penalized seven states a total of ₹129.27 crore for irregularities in implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission, a flagship initiative aimed at providing tap water connections to every household. The move comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed authorities to spare no one in the scheme.The seven states facing penalties are Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Assam, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, with the latter facing the maximum amount of ₹120.65 crore in penalties. Of this, ₹6.65 crore has been recovered so far.The Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in 2019 with a budget of ₹3.60 lakh crore. Despite initial complaints of irregularities, the scheme has made significant progress, with 19.36 crore households now receiving potable water through newly built pipelines and overhead tanks.However, the scheme has faced challenges in operation and maintenance, with several gram panchayats struggling to maintain the infrastructure. In response, the Centre has initiated action against 607 cases of irregularities, involving 62 department officials, 969 contractors, and 153 Third Party Inspection Agencies (TPIA). Nine FIRs have been registered, and 19 individuals, including a former minister, have been arrested. The Centre has also recovered ₹12.95 crore in penalties so far. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's announcement to extend the scheme till 2028 is pending, contingent on action taken against the irregularities. The Centre is currently monitoring the scheme and emphasizing transparency and accountability.
