What did J&K House panel find in Jal Jeevan implementation?

The Jammu & Kashmir House Committee has uncovered numerous irregularities in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in the Union Territory, in a 1,252-page report tabled in the Assembly on September 21. The committee, headed by former High Court judge Hasnain Masoodi, found that "gross negligence of administrative machinery" plagued the scheme's execution.

Field inspections, review of departmental records, and interactions with locals and stakeholders were part of the committee's year-long investigation. The report highlights the Apex Level Committee's failure to carry out its monitoring duties, leading to an absence of proper planning, supervision, and effective monitoring. Controversial decisions, such as the switch from Galvanized Iron (GI) pipes to High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) without proper revision of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), are also criticized.

The committee noted that the decision to change pipe materials was made at the lower level, seemingly to avoid accountability for potential consequences. Issues like misplaced priorities, substandard civil works, and irregularities in laying the pipe network were also flagged. Additionally, the committee found that Panchayati Raj institutions were effectively sidelined in the execution of the JJM, denying them their crucial roles.

The committee has recommended the formation of a "High-Level Committee" to investigate lapses committed by members of different committees and has urged an examination of the mechanism followed by the UT-level purchases committee while awarding contracts for JJM material procurement.