MLAs pick holes in Jal Jeevan Mission implementation

Jammu, Mar 4: Members of J&K Legislative Assembly cutting across party affiliations Tuesday picked holes in the schemes being executed under Jal Jeevan Mission. While many members pointed out that there were serious discrepancies vis-à-vis implementation of JJM, BJP MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia demanded a House Committee to probe lapses.

Dissatisfied by the government response to his question regarding water supply schemes, Congress MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat mocked, “Kashmir valley is confronting a serious water crisis. But what we are witnessing is Jal-Jugaad. I want to know the physical status of these schemes. Give me an instance of one water supply scheme which is satisfactorily functioning. Even filtered water is not supplied to people.” He also quoted an instance where a dead animal was found in the water reservoir.

NC MLA Nazir Ahmed Gurezi too joined the cause and said, “In JJM, there is neither Jal (water) nor Nal (tap). Pipes have been laid in nullahs and water is supplied from there. I have asked people not to pay a fee till they get filtered water.” Mankotia said that this scheme of the Government of India was good but the problems remained with its implementation and demanded a House Committee to probe into the lapses in its implementation. Minister for Jal Shakti Department assured to look into their grievances. He said by April, all schemes would be made functional.