Suit filed against alleged irregularities in JJM

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 7 : Lok Sabha MP Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam has filed a petition in the Manipur High Court, alleging large-scale irregu- larities in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Manipur.
Addressing the media at his Keishamthong residence, the MP  claimed that the scheme which aims to provide safe drinking water to every household, has become the biggest scam in Manipur.
Stating that he has been probing the issue of inadequate drinking water supply and had raised it in Parliament, he said that a Government report claims 3,59,000 households have benefited from the Jal Jeevan Mission, with an investment exceeding Rs 1,000 crore.
Dr Bimol stated that, as per a Government report, approximately 79.59 per cent of households in Manipur have access to safe drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
However, he noted that field visits revealed instances of mismanagement in the scheme's implementation.
Expressing concerns over suspected misappropriation of Jal Jeevan Mission funds, he alleged that some individuals may be siphoning off public funds by randomly adding names to the beneficiaries' list.
This is a big scam, he said.
Dr Bimol also alleged that he encountered instances of individuals illegally charging money for tap water connections, which violates the rules of the JJM.
Ensuring a regular water supply for at least one to two hours daily could address the issue of water unavailability, he said and emphasized that the public is suffering because of the insincerity in the implementation of the scheme.
The MP also said that most households rely on purchasing water from private tankers for their daily consumption and use.
Asserting that irregularities in the implementation of the JJM constitute a violation of the right to life, the MP added that he has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Manipur High Court to investigate the alleged discrepancies.
It is the Government's duty to ensure people have access to water and other basic amenities, he said and added that addressing public issues needs collective efforts.
Urging the public to report any fraudulent inclusion of their names in the JJM beneficiary lists and to consider filing a PIL if necessary, he stressed that such irregularities should not be normalized.
The MP emphasized that public cooperation is crucial to bring about positive changes in Manipur.
Meanwhile, the MP inaugurated two RO community water plants at Khwairamband Keithel, funded under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme.
During the ceremony, Dr Bimol announced plans to install similar water plants at other keithels and places of worship across Manipur.
The MP highlighted that each water plant can produce 130 litres of safe drinking water per hour.
He said that the initiative aims to address the issue of vendors relying on packaged drinking water, which contributes to plastic pollution.