Allegations of widespread misappropriation, non-implementation and false reporting have surfaced against the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Batabari and Selsella blocks, with Former GHADC MDC Sofior Rahman accusing the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) of reporting false completion records while the ground realities show otherwise.
Rahman said the JJM scheme covers 26 villages in the two blocks in West Garo Hills district under the Nekikona Combined Water Supply Scheme. While the initial tentative completion date was st for December 31, 2023 it was later extended to June 30, 2025.
He said the implementing firm BAC Infratech has already withdrawn Rs 51.48 crore out of a sanctioned Rs 60.36 crore, yet most villages have not received any house tap connection or functional water supply.
Rahman said false entry was made in the JJM national dashboard of the Ministry of Jal Shakti as more than 80 per cent of the target villages have not received any tap water connections. In some locations where pipelines or taps were installed, there is no water flow, indicating incomplete and deceptive execution, he added.
In some locations where pipelines or taps were installed, there is no water flow, indicating incomplete and deceptive execution.
When the issue was raised on social media, the ex-MDC said yesterday, workers were seen in New Bhaitbari in an attempt to stage work progress and mislead any potential site inspections. “This is not genuine progress but an attempt to cover up inaction,” he said.
Rahman also said that the company has no legal authority to continue the extended work order as it lapsed on June 30, 2025. “Despite this, the contractor is continuing activities without renewed permission, which is illegal and must be stopped immediately,” he demanded in a complaint to West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner.
He also said that the project was monitored by a third party inspection agency, whose reports were used to recommend bill payments and certify quality.
Rahman said PHE Minister Marcuise Marak had been dismissing public claims but few months ago, the Rajabala MLA publicly confirmed that even his own residence in New Bhaitbnri has not received a single tap connection, and neither has the rest of his village.
“The agency must be summoned to publicly verify its findings and be held accountable if its reports were misleading,” he demanded.
Rahman also referred to a Lokayukta order passed after the Garo Hills Youth Organization (GHYO) had filed a formal complaint and said the findings or progress have never been made public. “This silence encourages impunity and raises suspicion of collusion,” he added.
“With no water supply despite crores spent, and repeated ties through dashboards and staged works, the public has lost trust,” Rahman said demanding for an immediate, independent, high-level inquiry into the implementation and fund utilisation of the JJM project, suspension of ongoing work until investigation is complete, release of the Lokayukta order and status report and to summon the third party inspection agency for verification and public explanation.
He also demanded joint verification of the project by independent observers, media, or Assembly Committee and to take strict action against the firm and responsible PHED officers for misreporting, negligence, and misuse of public funds.
