Jal Jeevan Mission Audit Reveals 26% Non-Functional Village Water Supplies as Government Imposes Penalties

A comprehensive nationwide audit of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has prompted heightened monitoring after inspections uncovered significant irregularities across multiple states.

Central officers, 287 in total, conducted ground-level assessments revealing troubling statistics: only 68% of villages under major water-supply schemes had consistent water access, 6% experienced irregular supply, while a concerning 26% were completely non-operational.

The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched on August 15, 2019, was established with the goal of providing functional tap connections to every rural household in India, ensuring 55 liters of safe drinking water per person daily. The original 2024 completion target has been extended to 2028 to address remaining households and strengthen sustainability measures.

Following the audit findings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed the Jal Shakti Ministry to take decisive action against those responsible for irregularities. The response has been substantial: 607 cases identified across 20 states, 579 departmental proceedings initiated, and 531 officials penalized with 12 suspensions. Additionally, 236 contractors have been blacklisted, 116 contracts terminated, and 143 officials removed from inspection duties. Legal consequences include 9 FIRs filed and 19 arrests, including a former minister.

The central government has imposed financial penalties totaling Rs 129.27 crore on seven states, already recovering Rs 12.95 crore, and has frozen new funding until remedial measures are implemented.

Regarding progress, when the initiative began in 2019, merely 3.2 crore rural households (16.71% of India's total) had tap water access. Since then, an additional 12.5 crore households have been connected under JJM, bringing coverage to 81.34% (15.7 crore households). However, the 26% non-functional connection rate raises significant sustainability concerns.

Annual connection implementation has been inconsistent. The peak occurred in 2020-21 with approximately 3.2 crore households connected, while 2024-25 showed marked deceleration with only 0.2 crore new connections.

Seven states—Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Gujarat, Assam, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Rajasthan—are under particular scrutiny, having imposed penalties and begun recovery processes from contractors, with Rs 12.95 crore reclaimed to date. Gujarat leads with penalties and potential recoveries of Rs 120.65 crore, followed by Rajasthan at Rs 5.34 crore. Uttar Pradesh has implemented "liquidated damages" ranging from 0.1% to 10% in 113 of 119 cases requiring action, while reducing contractor responsibilities in six cases, affecting between 43 and 212 villages.

Funding for JJM increased dramatically from Rs 5,983 crore in 2019-20 to Rs 82,295 crore in 2023-24, before decreasing to Rs 26,164 crore in 2024-25. However, utilization rates have been problematic: 27% in 2021-22, peaking at 62% in 2023-24, and declining to 37% in 2024-25.

States and Union Territories have collectively spent Rs 62,905 crore, combining central and state contributions. Uttar Pradesh leads in expenditure, followed by Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, while Puducherry and Telangana report zero expenditure.

With 26% non-functional villages, inconsistent fund utilization, and irregular supply issues, the Jal Jeevan Mission faces significant challenges to its credibility. The recent funding freeze indicates a transition toward stricter accountability standards as the program continues through its extended timeline to 2028.