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Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Jal Jeevan Mission guidelines changes in 2022 were due to requests from states, minister V Somanna tells Lok Sabha
Minister of State for Jal Shakti V Somanna said Thursday that Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) operational guidelines were changed after considering requests from various states seeking Central support for meeting additional costs of raw materials increased due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine crisis. In a written reply to Lok Sabha, Somanna said, 'Considering the requests from various states seeking central support for meeting additional cost of raw materials increased due to Covid-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine crisis, requisite amendments were made in operational guidelines of the mission with effect from 21.06.2022 for sustaining the pace of implementation during mission period.' Somanna's reply came in response to a question asked by Samajwadi Party (SP) member Anand Bhadauriya, who wanted to know 'whether the change in the tender rules under the JJM, which were removed a few years ago, has led to huge additional cost amounting to crores of rupees across the states'. The government's reply to questions regarding the change in operational guidelines, which resulted in an increase in cost, is significant in view of concerns in some government sections that the cost of JJM works was inflated in certain states. On May 21, The Indian Express reported that an investigation into the data uploaded by states and Union Territories on the JMM dashboard showed that the crucial changes in the JJM guidelines three years ago had lifted the check on expenditure, leading to cost escalations. This resulted in additional costs totalling Rs 16,839 crore for 14,586 schemes, an increase of 14.58 per cent from their estimated cost. At the time of the revision of the guidelines in June 2022, Gajendra Sigh Shekhawat was heading the Jal Shakti Ministry. The payment of tender premium was prohibited in the original JJM guidelines issued in 2019. However, two-and-a-half years later, the Jal Shakti Ministry, with the approval of 'competent authority', made a crucial change in these guidelines on June 21, 2022. The ministry defined the 'approved cost' and deleted two words 'tender premium' from the suggestive list of inadmissible expenses. This paved the way for payment of tender premiums. Earlier this month, Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil stated that the Centre has halted the payment of tender premiums under the rural tap water scheme. Tender premiums refer to the additional amount a bidder quotes, which is higher than the government's approved cost. Responding to a question at the Idea Exchange programme of The Indian Express, Patil said, 'Tender premium ka bhugtan humne rok diya hai. Jo thha, jo gaya hoga woh alag baat hai, magar jo naya hai usse poori tarah hamne rok diya hai (We have stopped the payment of tender premium. What was there, what has gone is a different matter, but what is new has been completely stopped).' In a written response to a question posed by Congress member Praniti Shinde, Somanna stated that a proposal to continue the JJM until 2028 with an enhanced total outlay is under consideration by the government. Shined had asked 'whether the Government has sought an additional 2.79 lakh crore for the completion of the mission' and whether the 'Expenditure Secretary-led panel has approved only a part of the requested amount and proposed a 46% cut in central funding support upto December 2028'. In reply to Shinde's question, Somanna said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during her Budget speech 2025-26, announced extension of Jal Jeevan Mission until 2028 with 'enhanced total outlay'. 'Accordingly, a proposal for continuation of Jal Jeevan Mission until 2028 with enhanced total outlay is under consideration of the Government,' Somanna said. Since the launch of the JJM in 2019, 6.4 lakh water supply schemes with a total estimated cost of Rs 8.29 lakh crore – more than double the scheme's original outlay of Rs 3.60 lakh crore (Centre: Rs 2.08 lakh crore, states: 1.52 lakh crore) – have been approved by the states. To meet the additional funding requirement, the ministry approached the Expenditure Finance Committee, headed by the Expenditure Secretary, to approve an additional Rs 2.79 lakh crore in Central funding over and above the existing Rs 2.08 lakh crore. But the EFC recommended only Rs 1.51 lakh crore as the Central share, 46 per cent lower than what was sought by the ministry, as reported by The Indian Express on April 21. Like the Lok Sabha, members of the Rajya Sabha have also raised questions about the increase in the JJM cost due to the change in guidelines in 2022. On July 21, SP members Javed Ali Khan and Ramji Lal Suman asked the Jal Shakti minister about a change in the JJM guidelines and an increase in the cost.
Mint
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
I want Shashi Tharoor to...: Kanhaiya Kumar responds to ‘rift' rumours, tells who to blame for Congress' decline
Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar, who is likely to play a key role for the grand-old party in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, responded to reports about his senior colleague Shashi Tharoor's "rift" with the party leadership with a three-point answer. In an interview with the Indian Express, Kanhaiya recalled his time with the Left Party (Communist Party of India) and said if anyone spoke outside the party forum, they were removed. "They expelled veteran [CPI] leaders such as Somnath Chatterjee, PC Joshi," the NSUI in-charge said. "But now I am in the Congress and the party has a certain beauty that you can continue to be in the party even if you say anything against the Gandhis. There is that much freedom," the Congress leader said. Second, he said, Tharoor is a popular leader. "That is why Modiji has sent him [as part of Operation Sindoor delegation] instead of his own leaders," the NSUI in-charge said. In his point, Kanhaiya Kumar weighed in on the buzz around Tharoor's possible exit from the party. He said it must be Tharoor's decision to leave the party or not, but he wants the senior leader to stay in the Congress. "... whether he [Tharoor] will leave the party or not is his decision. I would want him to stay. Apart from him, the people who have left, that is their call," Kumar said during the Indian Express' Idea Exchange interview. Shashi Tharoor faced criticism from within his party, the Congress, for praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his policies on several occasions. Tharoor had raised eyebrows when he was selected by the central government to lead an all-party delegation on India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan. When asked if Congress leader Rahul Gandhi must be blamed for the party's decline, Kanhaiya Kumar said he is "against the politics of faces." He said the Congress was a party born out of struggles, "it remained in power for a very long time, and due to that, many problems naturally arise in any party." Kumar said he believes "not being able to convey that message — one with which the Congress was formed and grew — to the grassroots is a very big reason" for the party's decline. "If that message had continued to reach through action, not speeches, then this situation would not have emerged," the Bihar Congress leader said. Kumar said he joined the Congress "because of what is right" and one of that "is Rahul Gandhi's integrity." "Even if speaking the truth leads to immediate electoral loss, it should still be spoken. So when he made a major attack on the BJP at the policy level, whether it was the Rafale issue or the Adani matter, he would speak but many other leaders wouldn't. This situation still exists," Kumar said. He added, "So it is very important to convey what is being said at the top to the rank-and-file at the grassroots. Seva Dal, Youth Congress, Mahila Congress, NSUI should work as a mass front." Kanhaiya Kumar, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) incharge of the NSUI and former President of JNU Students' Union, is among those leading the Congress's fight in Bihar Election 2025.
Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
How Punjab Kings broke the bank for Shreyas Iyer at IPL 2025 Auction on Ricky Ponting's insistence
After a chunk of captaincy and squad shuffles, Punjab Kings broke an 11-year drought on Sunday night in Ahmedabad as they stormed past five-time champions Mumbai Indians to reach their second IPL final. Leading the charge was the inimitable Shreyas Iyer, with the captain and the batter in top form to lead PBKS to a record chase over MI at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Iyer's epic onslaught, an unbeaten 41-ball 87 packed with nine sixes and five fours, steered Punjab to a five-wicket win to break Mumbai's 18-match winning streak while defending 200-plus totals. Iyer's stable leadership has been of vital importance to Punjab's resurgence with a revamped squad since the Mega Auction held in November 2024. The 30-year-old Iyer was Punjab's top picks after having started the team-building process on the back of only two uncapped retentions in Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh. Iyer's stocks soared as high as Rs 26.75 crore, the second-highest IPL auction bid ever, as Punjab's relentless pursuit finally bore fruit. It took newly appointed head coach Ricky Ponting's relentless commitment to snap up Iyer that made the association and the qualification to the final for the first time since 2014 possible for the Kings. READ: Fully Ricky Ponting Idea Exchange Interview 'I may have made it sound like the whole team is all about me. It's certainly not. I'm the head coach and responsible for wins and losses, but once the game starts, the team is handed over to the captain. The coach can do very little once the game starts. It was pretty clear with what we did at the auction by bringing Shreyas to this franchise, it was clear to me and the owners that we wanted the best possible Indian captain. We got our man. He's been terrific around the group,' Ponting had told The Indian Express during an Idea Exchange interaction early in the IPL 2025 season. Ponting insisted that Iyer's nous and leadership abilities were integral for Punjab, adding that the coach did not have a real-time impact on the field. 'I don't think a cricket team coach has the same impact as a football team manager. I like to share my thoughts and ideas with the captain and a few senior players. We don't necessarily include everyone in all tactical decisions, but the relationship between the captain and coach must be as strong as possible. That's why I went for Shreyas in the auction. I've worked with him for a long time in Delhi (Capitals). He's one of the great players and great people I've worked with, and is an IPL-winning captain. We have a terrific relationship, respecting each other's roles. Making his franchise debut with a stellar 97 not out in a high-scoring game, incidentally against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, Iyer went onto cross the 600-run mark for the first time in a season on Sunday. 'You watch him walk out to bat, he walked out with a certain amount of swagger about him because he's confident. He knows if he does his little things right, then he can't fail. That's the thing I always tell the players: if you prepare as well as you can and if you go out and stick to your game plan, you can't fail. Yes, you might make a mistake, but you've done everything you can to make an impact on the game,' remarked Ponting. Despite his rejuvenated returns in the domestic season, the 30-year-old Iyer was overlooked for India's 18-member Test squad due to take on England later this month. Speaking to the ICC Review, Ponting said that the Mumbaikar has sourced motivation from the snub. 'I actually was gutted…but he's accepted that really well and he's moved on. 'He's just got that real hunger in his eyes to do well every time that he plays for us here and wants to win games of cricket and wants to evolve and develop into the best leader and captain that he can be.'
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Daily Briefing: India readies response to Pahalgam
Good morning, With the much-anticipated England Test series set to begin in late June, India's leadership puzzle is gaining intrigue. Jasprit Bumrah, the current vice-captain, is unlikely to feature in all five Tests as part of a broader workload management strategy. Despite leading India to their solitary win during their tour in Australia, Bumrah's role could be limited this time. Sources suggest the selectors are wary of the ace seamer's injury-prone past and want a leader who will play the whole series. They also want a younger face as the vice-captain, opening the doors for rising stars like Shubman Gill or Rishabh Pant. On that note, let's get to today's edition. Big Story India's response to Pakistan in the wake of the April 21 Pahalgam terror attack is gathering pace. The Air Force and Navy chiefs briefed the Prime Minister on their preparedness on Sunday. This comes even as India has stepped up its diplomatic measures against Pakistan over the weekend. These measures included a complete ban on all imports from Pakistan, the suspension of all postal services to and from the country, and a ban on Pakistani ships from docking at Indian ports. Escalation: Reports indicate that Pakistan has placed its troops along the Line of Control (LoC) on high alert and has prepared detachments of heavy weapons in response to these developments. Ever since the attack, Pakistan has been constantly violating the ceasefire along the LoC with unprovoked firing. According to the Army, these violations, which were previously confined to one or two sectors, have now spread across multiple sectors, particularly in areas where Pakistani troops hold the terrain advantage. Only in Express Kiren Rijiju helms the Ministry of Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs at a critical juncture for India in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack and the Waqf Amendment Bill. Rijiju joined us for the latest edition of Idea Exchange to speak about the challenges going forward and to give an inside view on the government deliberations on these matters. From the Front Page What's cooking? In a significant scientific breakthrough, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said it has developed the world's first genome-edited (GE) rice varieties. These varieties offer superior yields, drought tolerance, and high nitrogen-use efficiency traits. Crucially, GE differs from 'genetic modification' (GM) of plants as it does not introduce foreign DNA to the host. Frosty relations: India suspended the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty, which divided the waters of six rivers between India and Pakistan, last week. But even before the treaty was put in abeyance, scientists had discussed redrawing it, factoring in climate change. Leading glaciologist Anil V Kulkarni sheds light on the glaring gaps in the IWT. Must Read Steal: In 2019, JSW Steel Ltd acquired the debt-ridden Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd (BPSL) for a whopping Rs 19,350 crore. Four years later, the Supreme Court rejected JSW Steel's resolution plan for BPSL, marking a shocking end to the longest-running insolvency saga in India. The court has ordered BPSL's liquidation, which, if carried through, would be the biggest-ever liquidation in the history of the corporate sector. What does this mean for JSW Steel and the future of BPSL? We break it down for you. Cracks: The ambitious Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project (KLIP) in Telangana was to be the biggest of its kind in the world. A brainchild of then-Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, work on KLIP, the 'crown jewel' of his BRS government, began in June 2019. Four years on, the new Congress government in the state calls it the 'biggest man-made disaster since Independence', questioning its structural integrity. Read our explainer on what's ailing the Kaleshwaram project. And Finally… Meet the latest victim of the Trump tariff saga: films! He proclaimed that the American movie industry was 'dying' in the face of incentives offered by other countries to draw studios away from the US. To counter this 'national security threat,' the Trump administration plans to impose 100 per cent tariffs on 'any and all movies produced in foreign lands.' The announcement has left many things unclear. Does this include foreign-language films? What of films produced in the US but shot across international locales? 🎧 Don't miss the latest episode of the '3 Things' podcast. Today's lineup: The caste census debate, a water-sharing row between Punjab and Haryana, and the suspension of Air India flights to Tel Aviv. That's all for today, folks! Until tomorrow, Sonal Gupta
