Opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha questioned the Narendra Modi government’s claim of providing tap water to every household by 2024 under the Jal Jeevan Mission, claiming that the government has little to show for it so far.
Opening the debate, Congress leader Digvijay Singh said that the Ministry of Water Power, which had ambitiously scrapped by bringing various departments under one head, has not been able to use the funds allocated for various projects.
Addressing Water Power Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Mr. Singh said, “The way your ministry is functioning, I do not think you have control over it. The recommendations of the Standing Committee oversaw the non-utilization of funds, monitoring of ongoing projects, incomplete projects and excess of cost. “
Mr. Shekhawat is slated to answer the debate on Tuesday.
Citing the recent Standing Committee report in the ministry, Mr. Singh said, “In the Jal Jeevan Mission, you cannot spend the 2,436 crore allocated amount in 2018-19. Similarly in 2019-20, you cannot spend 31 4,631 crores in 2019-20. “
He also said, “I congratulate your resolve to provide tap water to all by 2024. But I do not think you will distribute and spend ₹ 60,000 crore allocated for it. You do not have a shelf of projects (Project pipeline to execute this plan) … Water is going to be a big issue in the coming days. “
Mr. Singh said that the Swachh Bharat Mission has also met the same fate. The ministry said, it cannot spend 3 10,683 crore in 2018-19 and 75 10,475 crore in 2019-20, he told the House.
“What kind of government are you running? I am unable to understand.
Speaking later, another Congress leader Shakti Singh Gohil pointed out that the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Seva Yojana, the government’s mission for irrigation, which was launched in 2015, still has more than 58 incomplete projects six years later .
In 2015, Mr. Gohil reported that hil 20,000 crore was allocated to the Namami Gange project to clear the Ganges River, but so far only ₹ 12,324 crore has been released by the government in the last six years.
Even NDA partners appeared skeptical about the ministry’s performance. JD (U) leader RCP Singh said that infrastructure and crops are destroyed every year in North Bihar.
“I would request the Center that by the time an agreement with Nepal on the construction of the dam can be finalized, Bihar should be given an additional tide of 30-40,000 crore annually.” He further said that Bihar has already provided tap water in every house of the state and adequate compensation should be given to the state government for this.
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