Jammu, Mar 22: Speaker J&K Legislative Assembly Abdul Rahim Rather Saturday announced to constitute a House Committee to probe all aspects vis-à-vis alleged irregularities in the execution of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) of the Jal Shakti Department, to “allay all the apprehensions” of the Members of Legislative Assembly.
He made this announcement while winding up the day’s proceedings immediately after the House passed the demands for grants for the Departments of Forest, Ecology and Environment; Irrigation and Flood Control Department; PHE (Jal Shakti) and Tribal Affairs Department.
The Speaker’s decision was preceded by a vociferous demand by the treasury benches, mainly National Conference and Congress members for the constitution of the House Committee to investigate, what they alleged was “misappropriation of funds to the tune of thousands of crores in the execution of JJM.”
Jal Jeevan Mission aims to cover all rural households, except single houses away from the villages or habitations, with Functional Household Tap Connections FHTCs to provide drinking water in adequate quantity and of prescribed quality on a regular, long term and sustainable basis.
“As and when any question has been raised about the Jal Shakti Department or its functioning has been discussed since the commencement of this session, a demand has emerged from different corners for investigation into it (JJM). The reason is that the Members have certain apprehensions about it and they want to remove any opacity clouding it (JJM). Therefore they (Members) want a probe,” Rather addressed the House.
“Even today when the debate was going on, the Members from both the treasury and opposition benches desired the constitution of a House Committee for the purpose (of probing into allegations). I don’t think the Minister (Javed Rana) Sahib should have any objection to it if the House desires so. House is supreme. If the House wants something to be investigated, then it should happen. Where is the problem?” he asked.
In the same breath, the Speaker added, “Therefore, I announce to constitute a House Committee to investigate all aspects related to it.”
Though the House proceedings were over yet the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma, while addressing the Chair, demanded, “Before the constitution of the Committee, there should be an exhaustive debate in the House.”
“Debate is over now. Since morning, this issue was being debated in the House,” Rather replied and the House was dispersed for the day.
Earlier, right from the word ‘Go’, the members from treasury benches started demanding a House Committee to probe into the “Jal Shakti scam.”
National Conference MLA Shamima Firdous was the first speaker, who initiated debate on the demands for grants for four departments, including Jal Shakti, under the charge of Minister Javed Rana, to raise this demand. Instead of specifically demanding a House Committee to probe JJM, she said, “Speaker Sir, we make a demand for a House Committee to probe the Jal Shakti scam.”
Her party colleague and former Minister Mir Saifullah was the next to demand it as he mockingly remarked, “While discussing Jal Shakti department, I would say – Jal (water resources) is ours but ‘Shakti’ (power) is with the officers and employees (of PHE).”
Referring to JJM execution in his constituency, Saifullah said, “They claimed to have spent Rs 650 Cr in my constituency. They maintain that all the schemes have been completed however, on the ground, hardly one or two schemes are complete. My people are suffering for want of potable water. There is acute water scarcity. Had all the schemes been completed, scarcity would not have been there.”
He said that in Keran, they claimed there were 5500 (water) pipes but on ground, there were only 500 pipes available.
“In Kashmir, they have laid sub-standard pipes which could not withstand vagaries of weather. Speaker Sir, there’s a big scam of thousands of crores. We cannot ask the department to probe into it as those (officers/officials) responsible for the scam, are still part of it (department). They would not investigate themselves. Therefore, we request that a House Committee should be constituted to probe this Jal Shakti Mission (Jal Jeevan Mission) scam,” he demanded, adding, “Had the money been used judiciously, no house would have been without water.”
Former Minister and Congress MLA G A Mir too endorsed their contention saying, “They (BJP) had created hype about JJM and Jal Shakti. They had dumped pipes anywhere and everywhere. PHE is in a mess.”
NC’s Abdul Majid Larmi said that the House Committee should probe all the irregularities committed during 2014-2024.
BJP’s Mohan Lal Bhagat also stated that out of 43 schemes under JJM in his constituency, only six were completed. However, he did not demand the House Committee.
MLA Gulabgarh Engineer Khursheed said that out of 28 schemes under JJM, none was completed in his constituency.
NC’s Altaf Kaloo, Bashir Veeri, Javed Iqbal Choudhary, Dr Shafi Wani, Abdul Majid Larmi, Riyaz Ahmed Khan, Salman Sagar, independent MLA Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, Congress MLA Iftikhar Ahmed also demanded House Committee to probe irregularities in JJM execution, stating that the people were suffering for want of potable water.
BJP’s Yudhvir Sethi stated that JJM could not find engineers to complete and run schemes yet did not demand the House Committee.
NC’s Aijaz Jan taking a dig at the department’s functioning said, “Where there is Jal, there is no Shakti and where there is Shakti, there is no Jal. 80 percent of pipes have been sold out. I’ll demand an investigation by CBI or NIA; if that is not possible, then constitute a House Committee.” AAP’s Mehraj Malik too picked holes in the JJM execution.
MLA Zadibal and NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, also called for the formation of a House Committee to investigate irregularities in the Jal Shakti department.
“BJP MLAs Sham Sharma, Rajiv Jasrotia and (Balwant Singh) Mankotia used to pick holes in JJM execution. Now they should support this demand,” Sadiq said.
However, Jasrotia objected to it, saying they never demanded a House Committee.
Sadiq emphasized the urgent need to ban single-use plastic and promote biodegradable alternatives to protect the environment. Expressing concern over glacier melting due to black carbon, he urged for immediate measures to combat this environmental threat. Tanvir Sadiq also demanded that water bills should not be imposed on the public, advocating for relief to the people.
Also, he requested that the areas of Zadibal, Bagwanpora, Hawal, DD Bagh, and other localities be reconnected to the Rangil water supply instead of the Nigeen source, ensuring better and more reliable water distribution for the residents.
Randhir Thakur of the BJP defended the JJM execution, saying that the Minister and MLAs should monitor its execution. “PM Modi has generously given funds. He will not come for its execution or for laying pipes. The pipes are okay. They should be laid 2-3 feet beneath the ground,” he said.
Sunil Bhardwaj of BJP, though dissatisfied with the JJM execution, suggested that the funding should not be cleared till MLAs did not give clearance after monitoring the works on the ground.
MLA Zafar Ali Khatana expressed his satisfaction with JJM execution.
BJP’s Balwant Singh Mankotia did not mince words in criticising JJM execution yet did not call for the House Committee.
