Lok Sabha Question No. 2231 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-12
Subject: Jal Jeevan Mission in Dhule District, Maharashtra
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Dr. Bachhav Shobha Dinesh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2231

ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026

## JAL JEEVAN MISSION IN DHULE DISTRICT, MAHARASHTRA

## 2231. DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether identification and possession of land for key infrastructure components such as Water Treatment Plants, Master Balancing Reservoirs (MBRs) and Elevated Storage Reservoirs under the prescribed guidelines of the Jal Jeevan Mission are required to be completed prior to tendering and award of works and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  the  details  of  the  schemes  approved  under  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  in  2022  in  Dhule  district, Maharashtra  including  contractor  name,  approved  cost,  accepted  tender  amount  and  stipulated completion period, project-wise;

(c) the current physical and financial status of each such project indicating component-wise progress and funds utilised;

(d) whether changes in location or land approvals for major components were granted after award of  contracts  or  commencement  of  work  in  any  of  these  projects  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof indicating the date and authority approving such changes; and

(e) whether any review, third-party inspection, technical audit or action has been initiated to inquire into procedural lapses and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA)

(a)  to  (e)  Drinking  water is  a  State  subject.  The  power to  plan,  design,  approve  and  implement drinking  water  supply  schemes/projects  lies  with  State  Government.  Government  of  India,  in partnership  with  States/UTs  is  implementing  Jal  Jeevan  Mission,  since  August,  2019,  to  make provision  of  tap  water  supply  to  every  rural  household.  Under  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  (JJM),  the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation provides financial, policy guidance and technical assistance to the States and Union Territories for implementing their drinking water supply schemes.

As reported by the state government of Maharashtra and as per existing guideline of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), identification  and  possession  of  land  for  key  infrastructure  components  such  as Water Treatment Plants, Master Balancing Reservoirs (MBRs) and Elevated Storage Reservoirs are required to be completed prior to tendering and award of works.

Further as reported by the state, under National Jal Jeevan Mission, Land required for construction of key infrastructure components was identified prior to tendering by obtaining resolution of all related  Gram  Panchayat,  confirming  availability  of  land.  Land  identification  and  procedure  of possession  of  land  required  for  Water  Treatment  Plants  and  Master  Balancing  Reservoirs  is completed  by  the  Implementation  agency  (M.J.P/Z.P).  In  case  of  Elevated  storage  Reservoirs (ESRs) land identification is carried out at the time of commencement of work. However, in some villages, ESR locations are subsequently changed based on resolutions of the concerned Village Panchayats due to local requirements and site suitability.

The state has also reported that there are total 339 RPWS (11 schemes by MJP & 328 schemes by ZP) in Dhule District under the Jal Jeevan Mission during the year 2022. All the technical details of projects/schemes implemented under JJM is maintained at state level.

For all works under JJM, third party inspection and certification before payment is mandatory. For the purpose, States 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.  The  criteria  for  selection  and  Terms  of References  (ToR)  of  TPIAs  to  be  empaneled  by  the  States,  is  laid  down  in  JJM  Operational Guidelines. The details of quality checks done by TPIAs is also maintained at State Level.

Government of India has undertaken ground-truthing of JJM schemes across States/UTs through Central Nodal Officers (CNOs) appointed by DoPT, the National JJM Team, and National WASH Experts (NWEs).  These  visits assessed multiple parameters, including quality of works, functionality of schemes, appropriateness of technical design, implementation progress, effectiveness of Third-Party  Inspection Agencies (TPIAs), and grievance redressal mechanisms. Pursuant  to  the  findings,  this  Department  has  advised  all  States/UTs  to  take  appropriate administrative and legal action, wherever necessary, and to furnish detailed scheme-wise responses through the JJM-IMIS portal.

As reported by the State of Maharashtra, action has been taken against 1 Departmental Officials and 5 contractors, out of 154 complaints.

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