Tap into Truth: Public gets say in Rs 7000 Cr water scheme probe

Srinagar, Jul 7: A House Committee of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly probing alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has invited complaints and information from the people, whistleblowers, and stakeholders.

In a public notice (DIPK-3332-25) issued on July 4 by the Assembly Secretariat, the committee called for submissions on issues including non-provision of tap connections, use of substandard materials, incomplete or abandoned schemes, and other instances of corruption or mismanagement under the centrally sponsored scheme.

“Whistleblowers, stakeholders, and people are hereby informed to bring to the notice of the committee their respective complaints, if any,” the notice vide No DIPK-3332-25 signed by Syed Ahmad Wani, Assistant Director and in-charge of the House Committee JJM, said.

Complainants have been asked to submit signed representations, including full name, parentage, address, and contact details.

Submissions can be sent by post to the Chairman, House Committee JJM, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Srinagar - 190001, or by email to jimhcprobekla@gmail.com within 15 days from the date of publication.

The committee, which met on May 22 and June 20 in Srinagar, reviewed initial records from the Jal Shakti Department and resolved to collect direct feedback to verify allegations of corruption and fake billing under JJM.

The probe was launched after lawmakers, during the 2025–26 budget session, raised alarm over alleged financial irregularities and inflated project claims.

The committee is chaired by Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi and includes legislators Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami, Altaf Ahmad Wani (Kaloo), Ali Muhammad Dar, and Tanvir Sadiq.

According to official sources, the Jal Shakti Department has so far submitted documentation for only 330 out of 3253 schemes, with each scheme file averaging 200 to 250 pages.

With 18 copies required for members and staff, more than 1.30 crore pages may be reproduced.

MLA Pahalgam, Altaf Ahmad Wani, has accused the department of presenting old water supply schemes as new JJM projects.

He has also questioned the department’s reported 55 percent rural household coverage by 2022, saying the ground reality tells a different story.

The committee has asked for year-wise financial allocation and expenditure records, technical and administrative sanctions, project reports, tender documents, and bid papers from the department.

The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2019, aims to provide every rural household with a functional tap water connection by 2024.

In Jammu and Kashmir alone, spending under the scheme has exceeded Rs 7000 crore.

The probe was triggered by revelations from former IAS officer Ashok Parmar, who flagged an alleged Rs 13,000 crore scam under JJM.

Political parties, including the Congress and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), later echoed the concerns and demanded a thorough investigation.

A comprehensive report will be made public after the committee completes its scrutiny of all documents, officials said.

NC, PDP LEGISLATOR’S TRADE BARBS OVER JAL JEEVAN PROBE

NC legislator Tanvir Sadiq welcomed the House Committee’s move to invite public complaints on the implementation of the JJM.

Posting on X, Sadiq wrote, “Let’s ensure transparency and accountability. If you know something, speak up.”

However, opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para criticised the NC-led government, alleging that it had allowed key departments to collapse.

“If Jal Jeevan’s effectiveness truly mattered, the government would have strengthened its core departments instead of letting them crumble,” Para said. “Top elected leaders are allegedly blocking key appointments in irrigation and allied departments while the water crisis worsens by the day.”

Para said critical posts in the Public Health Engineering (PHE), Irrigation, Public Works Department (PWD), and Mechanical divisions remain vacant, including: Hydraulic: 10 Chief Engineers, 10 Executive Engineers (XEN), 200 Assistant Executive Engineers (AEE) PWD: 3 Chief Engineers, 11 Superintending Engineers (SE), 32 XEN; Mechanical: 20 XEN, 60 AEE, 50 Assistant Engineers (AE), 250 Junior Engineers (JE).