Parliament Question: Financial irregularities and rural drinking water coverage

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2630 ANSWERED ON 16/03/2026 FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES AND RURAL DRINKING WATER COVERAGE 2630. SHRI JAGGESH: Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has received complaints or audit observations about financial mismanagement and inferior quality of works executed by certain departmental officials and empanelled contractors during late 2025; (b) whether Government has conducted any verification, vigilance inquiry or third-party quality inspection in this regard; (c) whether Government has ensured universal coverage of safe drinking water, free from Arsenic and Fluoride contamination, to every rural household/habitation under its ongoing programmes; and (d) if so, the State-wise details of coverage, remaining gaps and corrective measures undertaken to address contamination-related issues, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA) (a) & (b) As per the data reported by all States/ UTs, a total of 18,790 complaints have been received by States/ UTs from different sources such as media reports, suo-moto cognizance, references from public representatives, citizens, grievance portal, etc. regarding financial irregularities and poor quality of works under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). As reported by the States/ UTs, action has been taken in 1,468 cases involving 635 Departmental Officials, 1,020 contractors, and 155 Third Party Inspection Agencies (TPIAs). The departmental officials involved in irregularities are undergoing administrative action, including suspension, departmental inquiries, issuance of charge sheets as per established procedures. In the case of contractors, actions taken include blacklisting or recommendation for blacklisting, termination of contracts, debarment, forfeiture of earnest money deposits and imposition of penalties, depending on the nature of violation. With regard to TPIAs, the concerned officials have been removed from empanelment, and in other cases, show-cause notices have been issued and recoveries initiated. Furthermore, States/ UTs have been repeatedly advised to adopt a zero-tolerance approach toward any financial, procedural, or quality-related violations. All States/ UTs have been advised to ensure that every complaint is duly examined, field verification is carried out promptly, and all required disciplinary, contractual, and legal actions are taken without exception to uphold transparency and accountability of the mission. Page 1 of 2As per operational guidelines for implementation of JJM, payment for all works executed under JJM are to be made only after third party inspection of said works. (c) & (d) Under JJM, States/ UTs have been advised to plan and implement piped water supply schemes based on alternative safe water sources for the villages with water quality issues on priority. It was envisaged that planning, implementation and commissioning of piped water supply scheme based on a safe water source in such habitations may take time, therefore, purely as an interim measure, States/ UTs have been advised to install community water purification plants (CWPPs) especially in Arsenic and Fluoride affected habitations to provide potable water to every household to meet their drinking and cooking requirements. As reported by States/ UTs on JJM-IMIS as on 08.03.2026, there are 314 Arsenic and 244 Fluoride affected rural habitations in the country where the piped water supply schemes compliant to JJM standards are yet to be commissioned. However, all these habitations have been reported to be provided with safe drinking water through CWPPs or other interim measures. The State/UT- wise status of tap water connections under JJM, including those in quality affected habitations, is available in public domain and is accessible through JJM dashboard at: https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjmreport/JJMIndia.aspx ***** Page 2 of 2