NEW DELHI, Nov 26: The Centre has imposed penalties amounting to ₹129.27 crore on seven states for irregularities in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), following a clear directive from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take strict action and “spare no one” involved in financial, procedural, or quality-related violations. The move comes as part of the Union government’s intensified scrutiny over the flagship programme aimed at providing tap water connections to every rural household.
A senior official said that the largest penalty, ₹120.65 crore, has been levied on Gujarat, of which ₹6.65 crore has already been recovered. Other states facing penalties include Tamil Nadu (₹3 lakh), Tripura (₹1.22 crore), Assam (₹5.08 lakh), Maharashtra (₹2.02 crore), Karnataka (₹1.01 crore), and Rajasthan (₹5.34 crore). In total, the government has recovered ₹12.95 crore so far.
The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in 2019 with an initial outlay of ₹3.60 lakh crore, has already incurred expenditures exceeding ₹4.33 lakh crore. The scheme has faced widespread complaints regarding alleged irregularities, prompting the government to carry out extensive on-ground verification. PM Modi’s direction for strict monitoring and zero tolerance towards violations has shaped the Centre’s recent enforcement actions.
A top official said that transparency and accountability “remain non-negotiable pillars” of the Mission, echoing the Prime Minister’s insistence on corrective measures across states. The crackdown has also influenced funding decisions for the Mission’s extended period, as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had earlier announced its continuation till 2028. However, further allocation of funds is pending until the inquiry-linked actions are completed. The release of funds has now been directly linked to actions taken by states against irregularities.
The official noted that under JJM, water pipelines and overhead tanks were constructed nationwide to provide potable water to 19.36 crore households. Despite this progress, operational and maintenance challenges have surfaced, especially in gram panchayats that lack adequate capacity.
Giving a state-wise update, the official said that 32 states and Union Territories have submitted action-taken reports. Among them, 20 states — Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and West Bengal — have reported irregularities and actions in 607 cases. These actions include proceedings against 62 department officials, 969 contractors, and 153 Third Party Inspection Agencies (TPIA).
Additionally, nine FIRs have been registered against 20 officials, 10 contractors, and one TPIA. Arrests so far include a former minister, 10 government officials, and eight contractors.
Meanwhile, 12 states and UTs — Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Puducherry, Sikkim, and Telangana — have submitted nil reports on irregularities.
