New Delhi: The Indian government has ordered an extensive countrywide inspection of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), with nearly 100 senior officials dispatched to review project implementation across 135 districts in 29 states and Union Territories. This vast nationwide exercise follows apprehensions of grave cost overruns and possible mismanagement in carrying out the flagship rural water supply programme.
The decision was taken in a high-level review meeting held by the Cabinet Secretary on 8 May and has been formalized through a notification by the Department of Personnel and Training, which was promulgated on Monday. The notification stated that 99 nodal officers would inspect 183 randomly selected projects as part of the initiative.
The inspection comes two months after a Finance Ministry panel, headed by the Expenditure Secretary, advised a 46% cut in the budget demand of the Ministry of Jal Shakti for the year 2025-26, in what further increases scepticism regarding fiscal providence, transparency, and the efficiency in the use of public funds.
Launched in 2019, the Jal Jeevan Mission aims to achieve functional household tap connections to all rural households by 2024, with already a couple of timeline extensions and spiraling costs. It is stated by officials that the audit teams will focus mainly on the time-bound completion of the project, utilization of funds, quality inspection, and physical progress.
[Source Credit: Financial Express]
