The Chhattisgarh government has touted strong results under the central Jal Jeevan Mission , which aims for tap water in every rural househ...
The Chhattisgarh government has touted strong results under the central Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims for tap water in every rural household. In a February 2025 High Court affidavit, state officials reported that 2,857 villages had been certified ‘Har Ghar Jal’ (every home with tap water) – up from 2,568 months earlier. The state also said it had identified 32,092 water sources (up from 28,649), built 8,732 overhead tanks (up from 7,292), and installed 13,721 solar pumps (with plans for 3,959 more). Chhattisgarh further notes it has allocated ₹7,292.28 crore of its ₹12,968.21 crore share of the mission funds and reserved ₹4,499.99 crore in the 2024–25 budget. Officials emphasize that the scheme has been extended to 2028 and that full coverage will be achieved with continued funding.
District-Level Shortfalls and Audits
Despite these official figures, independent reports reveal large gaps. In Raipur district, a recent investigation found that only half the planned work is done – even though ₹72.30 crore had been released (₹14.51 cr from Centre, ₹57.78 cr from state). Almost the entire released amount (₹66.16 cr) was paid to contractors before projects were finished, according to the report. As a result, dozens of villages marked “covered” still have no running water: many tanks are leaking, borewells have gone dry, or piped lines remain incomplete. The report explicitly notes that in 277 villages no drinking water has been supplied despite their inclusion under JJM. It quotes a district official admitting that “many contractors were paid without completing work, and several left projects unfinished”.
Similar issues are reported from almost all the other districts. In Mahamsumund, local media found only 623 of 1,114 planned water tanks built; roughly 43,000 households are still awaiting water supply. Even where infrastructure exists, villagers say supply is scant. A Patrika report noted that where tanks are built, “most villages are still facing water problems”, and in some places the tank “stands as a showpiece” with no tap connection delivering water. In Jashpur (Malakharoda block), a new multi-crore tank never delivered a drop: residents told reporters repeated fill attempts failed due to pipeline leaks, so “not a drop of water reached any home”, even as contractors and officials “grew rich”. Such stories echo across rural Chhattisgarh, suggesting that official coverage percentages may overstate functional connections.
In Rajnandgaon, investigative journalists found equally bleak numbers: of 660 villages, work was complete in just 98, leaving 562 villages without piped water despite ~₹2,600 crore approved for JJM there. Work plans frequently lie half-done – some villages have tanks but no pipelines, others vice versa, and in many cases leaks or low flow mean the raw target of 55 liters per person is not met. Observers note that state data on approved funds (₹2,600 cr) contrasts sharply with the visible reality of unfinished projects.
Funding and Oversight
Financially, the mission’s cost sharing has strained state resources. Chhattisgarh’s own share is enormous: for example, by Feb 2025 the state had already spent ₹7,292 cr and earmarked ₹4,500 cr. In Rajnandgaon alone, some ₹2,600 cr had been sanctioned, part central part state share. Yet central disbursements have lagged; as the Times of India reported, Chhattisgarh has repeatedly requested pending central releases for 2024–25. The High Court has intervened: at a February 2025 hearing, the court noted delays in central funding and directed the Union Jal Shakti Ministry to respond by the next date. The state government also pointed out that the scheme was extended to 2028 to accommodate unfinished work.
Local audits (from press and watchdogs) highlight mismanagement. In Bilaspur district, for instance, a central team found ₹4 crore spent with no impact: even after building tanks, residents still lacked water during rains. When the Jal Jeevan Mission’s Chief Engineer Sanjay Singh was shown this “satisfactory report” from the Centre, he publicly rebuked field engineers and contractors: “ठेकेदारों की लापरवाही किसी भी तरह से बर्दाश्त नहीं की जाएगी” (“We will not tolerate any negligence by contractors”). He warned that projects must be completed immediately or face action. These comments came after villagers and officials confirmed the media findings.
Despite paperwork of “100% household connections” in many areas, government bodies (and even courts) have been pressing for accountability. In one PIL hearing, the High Court specifically mentioned Surguja’s Ambikapur region, asking why villages like Balsedi and Sargawan still lacked water despite being reported “covered” by JJM. The court has scheduled follow-ups (next hearing April 2025) to ensure reported gaps are closed.
Quality and Ground Reality
Many reports emphasize not just coverage gaps but quality issues. Local engineers admit that poor materials and shoddy work abound: nearly all completed works in surveyed villages are questioned. One investigation noted pipelines installed without safeguards, causing frequent leaks and breakages. In several districts, citizens say new taps yield only a trickle, or go dry soon. In many cases, the taps never flowed because leakages in the system prevented any water from being delivered. Corrosion and inadequate pumps have been cited as reasons borewells run dry.
Some success stories do exist – a UNICEF report even highlights villages where women’s committees (“Jal Bahinis”) have tested and managed supply, and communities celebrate newfound access. But such anecdotes are contrasted by the widespread complaints and judicial scrutiny. Overall, dozens of media audits and field visits in Chhattisgarh suggest that the ground reality still falls short of the government’s numbers. Many villagers remain “thirsting drop by drop” despite large expenditures, according to one Hindi headline.
Citizen Voices and Outlook
On-the-ground feedback has been critical. In Bilaspur and Baloda Bazar, for example, local leaders told reporters they had filed complaints about non-functional works, but “even after complaints there is no resolution”. In one village, a resident reportedly asked how they should manage without water “बूंद-बूंद को तरसे लोग” (yearning drop by drop) – a refrain in many field reports. Officials concede problems: as Chief Engineer Singh noted, villages where work lagged have been told to complete it “immediately,” and any further negligence will be dealt with severely.
In sum, the Jal Jeevan Mission in Chhattisgarh presents a mixed picture. Official data and government statements show impressive progress and large budgets allocated. But independent accounts reveal serious implementation gaps, from unpaid or partially done works in dozens of villages to substandard pipelines and dry taps. Journalists, auditors and even courts have flagged discrepancies between the state’s claims of universal coverage and the everyday experience of villagers. Going forward, civil society and the judiciary appear poised to keep pressure on officials, demanding that “Har Ghar Jal” mean real water in every home, not just paper targets.
Sources: Official statements and affidavits (as reported by Times of India); investigative reports from Dainik Bhaskar, Patrika, Hari Bhoomi and others; government and UNICEF publications.
Written by: Shubhaanshu Jha
संदेश
कोई टिप्पणी नहीं