SENAPATI, Nov 19: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed on Wednesday before the Hon’ble High Court of Manipur at Imphal, highlighting serious allegations of mismanagement, corruption, non-execution of works, and falsification of official records in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and the New Development Bank (NDB)-financed rural water supply projects in Senapati District.

The PIL, filed by Mr. R. K. Paul, a social worker and resident of Oklong Maryram village, seeks urgent judicial intervention to safeguard the constitutional rights of rural and tribal communities who continue to remain without basic drinking water facilities despite official claims of “near 100% coverage”.
 
Key Allegations Raised in the PIL

The petition states that although crores of public funds have been sanctioned and released to the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED),substantial portions of the sanctioned projects remain non-existent on the ground. The petitioner relies on:

• RTI replies and official dashboard data,
• Community inspections and village testimonies,
• Media reports and public meetings,
• Photographic and video documentation.
   
  According to the PIL, villages such as OklongMaryram, Rajaimai, Makuilongdi, and Oklong(NDB Project) show wide gaps between official reporting and actual implementation, including:
• Absence of GI pipelines and household tap connections,
• Non-functional or unused reservoirs and distribution tanks,
• Supply of inferior materials like rubber pipes and plastic taps in place of mandated infrastructure,
• Falsification of dashboard entries claiming “100% household tap coverage”,
• Reports of financial discrepancies and alleged diversion of funds.
   
  The petition asserts that these acts amount to grave administrative failure, breach of public trust, and prima facie criminal misconduct, directly violating the fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
   
  Reliefs Sought
  The PIL seeks the following directions from the Hon’ble High Court:

1. Independent investigation by the CBI or a Court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) into JJM and NDB-funded projects in Senapati District.
2. Comprehensive forensic and financial audit by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) or other competent central agency.
3. Public disclosure of all project-related documents including DPRs, utilisationcertificates, measurement books, contractor bills and beneficiary lists.
4. Accountability measures, including disciplinary and criminal action against officials or contractors responsible for misappropriation or falsification of records.
5. Time-bound completion and rectification of all unexecuted or defective JJM works under the supervision of an independent expert committee.
6. Appointment of a Local Commissioner/Monitoring Committee to conduct periodic field verifications and file reports before the Court.
    
   The PIL emphasizes that the alleged discrepancies have caused irreparable harm to rural and tribal households, particularly in remote hill villages that lack alternative sources of safe drinking water. The petitioner argues that:

• The right to safe and adequate drinking water is a fundamental part of the right to life under Article 21.
• Official claims of “completed” projects, despite non-existent infrastructure, constitute arbitrary and discriminatory governance, violating Article 14.
• Misuse of public funds and suppression of records undermine constitutional mandates of transparency and accountability under Articles 38, 39(b), 41 and 47.
   
  The PIL has been registered today and is expected to be listed before the Division Bench of the High Court of Manipur. Given the scale of allegations and the potential implications for public health, fiscal responsibility, and governance in the State, the matter is likely to receive significant judicial and public attention.