India's Jal Jeevan Mission Catches Contractors in ₹129 Crore Web of Corruption and Poor Work
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India's flagship Jal Jeevan Mission has made significant strides in cracking down on corruption and substandard work in its drinking water projects. According to a recent update from the Minister of State for Water, V Somanna, six states have imposed penalties worth over ₹129 crore on contractors for poor-quality work and financial irregularities. The Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide tap-water connections to all 193.6 million rural households by the end of 2024. As of now, 157.5 million households (81.36% of the total) have been provided with tap water, a remarkable achievement considering only 32 million households had the facility at the start of the scheme. In Uttar Pradesh, 14,264 complaints were examined, with action taken in 434 cases involving departmental officials, contractors, and other stakeholders. The state has also recovered nearly ₹11 crore from contractors and agencies involved in engineering projects. Third-party agencies have verified all projects to ensure quality. The recent crackdown on contractors indicates a positive shift in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, with states taking proactive measures to address corruption and ensure quality work. This progress is a step towards achieving the mission's goal of providing clean drinking water to every rural household in India.
