J&K House panel asks for documents to probe Jal Jeevan Mission, told by dept: Need 1.3 crore pages
In March, following a debate during the Budget session, the J&K Assembly set up a House Committee to probe claims of irregularities. In response to the committee's request for documents, the Jal Shakti Department is learnt to have written that, based on an average of 200 to 250 pages per scheme — there are 3,253 schemes under the Mission — each set would run into roughly 7.3 lakh pages.
Since the committee has sought 18 sets for the members and allied staff, the department has written that this would require over 1.30 crore pages.
The department has sought an extension to submit the documents, stating that 'this exercise will not even need more time for compilation, but will also require huge resources for printing/photocopying the required number of sets.'
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather had announced the constitution of the House Committee to 'allay the apprehensions' of both the Treasury and Opposition benches after the March debate on the implementation of JJM. It held its first meeting on May 22.
The chairman of the committee, Hasnain Masoodi of the National Conference, said the next meeting is scheduled for Friday, June 27.
'We have sought documents on JJM. However, they have sought some time because they said that the documentation is voluminous. I am hoping that by Friday, they will be able to table it,' Masoodi told The Indian Express.
The Jal Jeevan Mission was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2019, to provide each rural household with a functional household tap connection.
The J&K House Committee is probing alleged irregularities in this scheme since its implementation in that year. The stated expenditure under the scheme till date in the UT is over Rs 7,000 crore.
The committee has requested the department for data regarding the year-wise financial allocation received from the relevant ministry and its utilisation, as well as copies of all administrative and technical sanctions related to JJM works, detailed project reports, tender notices, bid documents, technical and evaluation reports, among other documents.
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