GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1937
ANSWERED ON 31/07/2025
IRREGULARITIES IN JJM
†1937. SHRI RAKESH RATHOR:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), there have been
complaints from several States regarding corruption, cost...
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1937 ANSWERED ON 31/07/2025 IRREGULARITIES IN JJM †1937. SHRI RAKESH RATHOR:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), there have been complaints from several States regarding corruption, cost escalation, substandard construction and irregularities in contracting in the schemes for providing tap water to rural households resulting in irregular water supply to the rural population;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with number of inspection reports received from the districts where 119 Central Nodal Officers were deployed by the Government including the main findings thereof;
(c) whether the Government has taken any disciplinary or legal action against the contractors or officials found responsible based on those reports; and
(d) if not, whether the Government is considering any policy proposal in the near future to strengthen the citizen grievance mechanism and to implement a robust regulatory system and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA)
(a) Water is a state subject and, therefore, the primary responsibility for planning, implementation, and operation & maintenance (O&M) of piped water supply schemes to provide tap water to rural households, lies with the respective State/UT Government. As such, grievances/ complaints, etc. inter alia including corruption, sub-standard work and financial irregularities under JJM are handled and disposed of at the State/ UT level. Such complaints/ representations as and when received in this department are forwarded to the state government for taking necessary corrective measures. Further, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation undertakes several measures such as functionality assessment, ground truthing by National WASH Experts, call-based feedback from complainant, field visits by National Teams, status review in meetings, etc. to ensure that the complaints related to quality of works are addressed by the State/UT.
(b) to (d) Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India has appointed Central Nodal Officers (CNOs) for the ground inspection of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) schemes across identified districts. The visits of CNOs and report submission is currently underway.
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