Lok Sabha Question No. 273 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-18
Subject: Irregularities in Implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Anand Bhadauria, Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. - 273

ANSWERED ON 18/12/2025

## IRREGULARITIES IN IMPLEMENTATION OF JAL JEEVAN MISSION

## *273.   SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH: SHRI ANAND BHADAURIA:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to State:

(a) whether the Government has imposed penalties for irregularities under the Jal Jeevan Mission amounting to approximately Rs. 129.27 crore and have initiated recovery proceedings based on ground verification across seven States in the country including Uttar Pradesh, if so, the details thereof, State-wise and district-wise for Uttar Pradesh;

(b) whether the bulk of this penalty of about Rs. 120.65 crore pertaining to the State of Gujarat has not been recovered so far given that only about Rs. 6.65 crore has reportedly been collected, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor and the steps being taken by the Government to recover the remaining amount;

(c) whether the Government has carried out a comprehensive audit across all the States and Union Territories that have reported irregularities under JJM, if so, the findings of such audit(s) and the remedial/corrective measures taken thereon and if not, the reasons for such large-scale violations continuing unchecked even after massive public expenditure exceeding Rs. 4.33 lakh crore;

(d) whether the Government has taken any action against the persons/agencies reportedly involved in  JJM  irregularities  including  the  reported  62  officials,  969  contractors  and  153  Third-Party Inspection Agencies (TPIAs); and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the measures proposed by the Government to ensure more accountability in implementation of JJM?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI (SHRI C R PATIL)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) in respect of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *273 for reply on 18.12.2025 regarding Irregularities in Implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission asked by Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth and Shri Anand Bhadauria

- (a) Six  States  namely  Tamil  Nadu,  Tripura,  Gujarat,  Assam,  Maharashtra,  and  Rajasthan  have reported  significant  action  in  imposing  penalty  and  recovery  process  in  cases  of  financial irregularities and poor quality of works under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). In addition, 02 states (Uttar Pradesh and Tripura) have reported to have made recovery from contractors on account of  liquidated  damages,  while  02  states  (Karnataka  and  Tripura)  on  account  of  forfeiture  of EMD/ FDR. The state-wise details of penalties imposed and recoveries made are annexed.

Uttar Pradesh has reported that it initiated enquiries in 14,264 complaints received from various channels including suo moto cognizance. The report has been submitted in 14,212 cases while the  enquiry  is  under  process  in  52  cases.  The  state  has  further  reported  that  against  these complaints, action was taken in 434 cases which involves 171 Department level officials, 120 contractors and 143 TPIAs, while remaining complaints have either been addressed or found irrelevant.

- (b) As reported by the Government of Gujarat, a financial loss of Rs. 120.65 crore has occurred due  to  irregularities  in  620  villages  of  Mahisagar  district,  and  orders  have  been  issued  for recovery from 112 implementing agencies. The State Government has reported that Rs. 6.65 crore  has  been  recovered  from  these  agencies  so  far.  Further,  all  112  agencies  have  been debarred  by  the  State  Government,  and  an  FIR  was  registered  in  the  matter.  The  case  is presently under investigation by the CID Crime Branch, and so far, 9 officials/contractors have been arrested.
- (c) Since August 2019, Government of India is implementing JJM, in partnership with States/ UTs, to make provision of safe and adequate tap water connection to every rural household of the country. 'Drinking Water' is a state subject, and hence, the responsibility of planning, approval, implementation, operation & maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including those under the JJM, lies with State/UT Governments. The Government of India supports the states by providing technical and financial assistance.

At the start of JJM in August 2019, only 3.23 crore (16.7%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by States/ UTs as on 11.12.2025, around 12.52 crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 11.12.2025, out of 19.36 crore rural households in the country, more than 15.76 crore (81.41%) rural households are reported to have tap water connection.

To  support  states  in  effective  planning  and  implementation  of  JJM,  detailed  operational guidelines  covering  all  aspects  of  planning,  execution,  quality  assurance,  monitoring,  and sustainability of infrastructure created  under  JJM  has  been  shared  with  States/  UTs. Government of India has also been regularly reviewing the implementation with respective state governments through review meetings and visits of multi-disciplinary teams to highlight the

areas  to  strengthen  implementation  and  monitoring  for  expeditious  implementation  of  the mission. Under JJM, technology is utilized to ensure transparency and accountability. Physical and financial progress is reported on JJM-Integrated Management Information Systems (IMIS) and all tap water connections provided, are to be linked with Aadhar number of the head of the household. Provisions have also been made for geo-tagging of assets created under the JJM.

To ensure the quality of the work under the operational guidelines for the implementation of the JJM, third party inspection and certification before payment is mandatory. For the purpose, States/UTs have been empowered to empanel third party inspection agencies (TPIA) to check the quality of work executed by the agencies, quality of materials used for construction and quality of machinery installed in each of the scheme.

Any deviation from prescribed JJM guidelines is required to be acted upon by the State/UT Government concerned.

- (d) and  (e)  As  per  the  data  reported  by  32  States/  UTs,  action  has  been  taken  against  621 Departmental Officials, 969 contractors and 153 Third Party Inspection Agencies in cases of financial irregularities and poor quality of works under JJM. The departmental officials involved  in  irregularities  are  undergoing  administrative  action,  including  suspension, departmental inquries, 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.

*****

## Annex referred in the reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 273 answered on 18.12.2025

| State         | Penalty/ Recovery Imposed   | Penalty/ Recovery Made   | Liquidated Damages Recovered   | Forfeiture of EMD/ FDR   |
|---------------|-----------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------|
| 1             | 2                           | 3                        | 4                              | 5                        |
| Tamil Nadu    | 3,00,000                    | 3,00,000                 | -                              | -                        |
| Tripura       | 1,22,96,739                 | 1,22,96,739              | 7,09,903                       | 2,83,065                 |
| Gujarat       | 1,20,65,00,000              | 6,65,00,000              | -                              | -                        |
| Assam         | 5,08,089                    | 5,08,089                 | -                              | -                        |
| Maharashtra   | 2,02,04,200                 | 10,37,000                | -                              | -                        |
| Karnataka     | -                           |                          | -                              | 1,01,71,600              |
| Rajasthan     | 5,34,47,000                 | 3,77,29,000              | -                              | -                        |
| Uttar Pradesh | -                           | -                        | 340,00,00,000                  |                          |
| Total         | 129,32,56,028               | 11,83,70,828             | 340,07,00,000                  | 1,04,54,665              |