Nagaland organisation alleges INR 1,712 crore scam in Jal Jeevan Mission, demands SIT probe

DIMAPUR — Claiming to have conducted its own “undercover investigation”, the Nagaland Transparency, Public Rights Advocacy & Direct Action Organisation (NTPRAPAO) has alleged an INR 1712.03 crore scam in Nagaland under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), and appealed to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the alleged financial scam.

In a press release issued on Saturday, the organisation stated that it was issuing a 30-day ultimatum to the state government “with regard to the financial embezzlement and misappropriation case” under PHED Nagaland.

It warned that failure on the part of Nagaland government will prove to be “catastrophic”, prompting the NTPRAPAO to go for “mass agitation & public protest” till the PHED minister Jacob Zhimomi tenders resignation on account of “intense public pressure”.

Nagaland has 3,63,461 households, out of which 3,35,212 (92.23%) have household tap water supply coverage, it stated citing government data as of October 2024.

“The NTPRADAO officials have meticulously, scientifically and in detail executed an undercover investigation and thorough examination of the various spots i.e. water storage tanks and water supply distribution tanks and the layout of the piping system in the villages covered by the JJM under 16 districts in Nagaland, but very unfortunately the NTPRADAO points out the fact that even in the native village of Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton in Old Riphyim, no functional household tap connection (FHTC) has been provided to the rural village households; moreover, the entire water tanks constructed were of sub-standard quality and totally failing short of central guidelines in its engineering specifications.

“However shockingly in spite of huge developmental lacunas, the Old Riphyim village authority viz., VC chairman and the WATSAN chairman wilfully issued NOC along with Utilisation Certificate (UC) implying that each household in Old Riphyim were sufficiently getting tap water supply. This is just one of the instances among the thousand villages JJM has been wrongly implemented,” it claimed.

According to the organisation, most of the villages and households do not have “potable pipe water”.

“Secondly, whereas pipes are provided in some villages, it is far and scattered, not conforming to JJM guidelines about providing tap connection to each and every kitchen and bathroom/toilet area. Thirdly, use of inferior quality iron and materials to construct thousands of tanks and not adhering to JJM engineering guidelines.

“Fourthly, in some of the villages, funds were allegedly misappropriated by passing off old tanks and pipelines as new despite no actual installation occurring. Furthermore, accusations indicate that despite kilometres after kilometres of water pipelines remaining uninstalled, WATSAN committee and PHED officials colluded to embezzle the funds,” it stated.

The organisation appealed to the chief minister not only to form an SIT but also initiate and recommend for CBI and ED probe into the ‘illicit underhand dealings’ in PHED department.