Congress Demands Court-Monitored Probe Into Alleged ‘Huge Scandal’ In Jal Jeevan Mission Implementation In Manipur

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Posted in Featured, Manipur, Northeast
NET Web Desk

The Congress has alleged large-scale irregularities in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Manipur and called for a court-monitored investigation into what it described as a “huge scandal” involving data manipulation and misuse of public funds.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters in Imphal, Inner Manipur MP A Bimol Akoijam said, “I want the nation to know that a huge scandal is taking place under the Jal Jeevan Mission in Manipur.” He claimed that despite official figures showing substantial progress, ground assessments reveal a vastly different reality.

According to government data, before the launch of JJM in August 2019, only 26,000 rural households — about 5.74 percent — had tap water connections. The government now claims that an additional 3,33,539 households have been covered, bringing the total to 3,59,459 households or 79.59 percent of the state’s 4,51,619 rural households as of July 28, 2025.

Akoijam stated that ₹1,202 crore has been spent under the scheme — with ₹1,078.82 crore contributed by the Centre and ₹124.03 crore by the state. However, during field visits to several villages including Toubul, Nachou, Phubala, Patsoi Part-II, Kiyamgei, and Yurembam, he said no household reported having functional tap water connections.

“These discrepancies are not isolated. They point to a systemic issue of data manipulation and fund misappropriation,” Akoijam alleged, adding that similar issues have been reported from Senapati, Chandel, and Ukhrul districts, where villages marked as “fully covered” under JJM lack operational infrastructure or regular water supply.

Taking cognisance of these findings, Akoijam has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Manipur High Court, seeking a court-monitored probe into the implementation of JJM. The PIL requests a district-wise audit of funds, verification of tap connection claims, and recognition of access to safe drinking water as part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution, with a minimum guarantee of two hours of daily tap water supply to every rural household in Manipur.

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