While Assam initially aimed to complete the JJM project by 2023, setbacks led to an extension through March 2024. However, the project’s challenges with funding and contractor performance have now further postponed the completion date to late 2025, and potentially even 2026
While the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has undoubtedly transformed the rural landscape by bringing piped drinking water connections to remote villages, its success story in Assam is marred by delays, allegations of corruption, and management failures. Intended to provide potable water to every rural household by 2024, the ambitious mission is now grappling with audit reviews, a funding freeze, and a controversial payment scheme for contractors. Despite the programme’s scale and achievements, many critics highlight what they see as a pattern of negligence and mismanagement, calling into question the efficacy of JJM's execution in Assam.
ALSO READ: Assam's Hospitals Struggle To Balance Physical And Mental Well-being Amid Growth
Since the launch of JJM on August 15, 2019, the Assam government has worked to deliver Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to its expansive rural population. At the programme’s inception, only 1.6% of Assam’s rural homes had access to piped drinking water—a figure that lagged significantly behind the national average of 17%. Today, 78.58% of India’s rural households have access to drinking water through JJM, with Assam making notable strides despite its initial low coverage.
The state government, led by a team of over 8,000 contractors and backed by Rs. 19,550 crore in funding, has connected around 70 lakh rural households across more than 25,000 villages in Assam. This task has drawn praise for its goal to bridge the rural-urban divide and improve public health. Yet, behind these achievements lie unresolved issues, primarily involving project timelines, payment schemes, and quality control.
In a recent twist, the Assam government ordered a temporary freeze on all JJM projects, citing lapses in quality control and delays in meeting project deadlines. This decision followed mounting complaints from contractors and allegations of commission fees for contract allotment, which spurred the opposition Congress party to call for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe. Congress leaders claim that commissions of 8% to 13% were allegedly levied on contractors to secure projects, and they urge the state to address these concerns transparently.
The catalyst for the freeze was an internal letter from JJM’s Assam Mission Director, Kailash Karthik, to the state’s Chief Engineer of Water, citing "poor performance by some contractors who failed to meet project deadlines." This directive instructed contractors to cease construction activities temporarily, pending an audit.
"While JJM has significantly altered the rural drinking water landscape in a short time, there are issues of delay and quality due to the limited capacity of contractors in parts of the state," stated the Assam government in an official release, underscoring its intention to ensure every household receives clean tap water.
In light of these project freezes, the Assam government also rolled out stringent new payment guidelines for contractors under JJM, triggering further frustration. Following a recent grant of Rs. 7,500 crore from India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti—the third tranche of the 2024-25 fiscal year—the Mission Directorate opted for a part-payment approach. The new guidelines stipulate full payment only for bills under Rs. 7.5 lakh, while higher-value bills will receive either a set sum or a percentage of the approved amount.
Contractors with mid-value bills between Rs. 7.5 lakh and Rs. 30 lakh, for instance, are now only eligible for Rs. 7.5 lakh, and bills exceeding Rs. 30 lakh receive just 25% of the approved sum. Additional restrictions prevent the reallocation of funds and halt payments to contractors performing poorly.
A senior JJM official explained, “We previously cleared bills within a month, which accelerated the mission’s progress. Now, with over 80% of the work completed, we are scrutinising the quality and accountability of contractors. Some failed to meet deadlines, and certain projects require inspection to ensure quality.”
While Assam initially aimed to complete the JJM project by 2023, setbacks led to an extension through March 2024. However, the project’s challenges with funding and contractor performance have now further postponed the completion date to late 2025, and potentially even 2026. The Assam government admits that with the unprecedented scale of JJM, balancing resources across projects has proven challenging.
The part-payment directive has left contractors in a precarious position, with several voicing concerns over the impact of delayed payments on their businesses. “Some projects were sanctioned only in August,” a contractor who wished to remain anonymous told GPlus. “The authorities knew of the financial constraints, but the payment system has only added another layer of strain. Now, we’re required to submit a final bill upon completion, with a 10% security deposit held for a year to address complaints. The process feels more like a tug-of-war than a partnership.”
For many observers, the recent halt and scrutiny of JJM projects signal deeper issues within the programme’s management. A faction of the public is questioning why quality inspections weren’t initiated earlier, especially given the state’s limited history with such large-scale programmes.
Bhupen Borah, Chief of the Assam Congress, was particularly vocal in criticising the project, alleging systemic corruption within the state government and calling for a CBI inquiry. “There are reports of work being allocated with a commission of 8% to 13%,” Borah said. “If the Chief Minister is uninvolved, I urge him to ensure transparency by ordering an investigation.”
For contractors, the project’s high-stakes environment and performance pressures create a constant battle with project deadlines and inspection requirements. These contractors, primarily small businesses, have voiced grievances over being left without the necessary resources to deliver projects to standard. A recent contractor audit identified “a small percentage of challenges” related to contractor capacity, which the state government now aims to rectify.
One contractor told GPlus, “Deadlines vary between three months and two years, depending on project size, but the payment freezes and security deposit demands create a logistical nightmare for us. We were previously paid incrementally through running bills, which supported our cash flow. Now, we’re forced to wait until the project’s end and then for another year to receive our full dues.”
The Assam government acknowledges the scale and ambition of JJM’s objectives, while also recognising the hurdles it faces in managing quality and resources. In a recent statement, the state emphasised that "Assam has never implemented a programme of this scale before." Officials view the rural drinking water mission as a critical investment in public health and infrastructure, one that connects rural Assam to basic amenities that were previously out of reach.
Despite the setbacks, the state government underlines the achievements of JJM, noting that Assam’s rural households with piped water connections have risen from a mere 1.1 lakh to 15.19 crore across India. However, the broader successes of JJM in Assam are overshadowed by its management challenges, with critics claiming that mismanagement in early stages has contributed to its current issues.
Moving forward, the Assam government is taking a more cautious approach, opting to refine its processes with tighter audit controls and funding accountability measures. These shifts are intended to address public disillusionment and ensure that JJM achieves its intended impact. Yet the road ahead remains fraught with challenges, as delays continue and questions of corruption linger.
Many rural communities have eagerly awaited the arrival of potable water, and with the goal of 100% coverage in sight, state authorities face increased pressure to honour their commitments. The mission is set to close in 2026 if no further disruptions occur, but each delay is a setback to Assam’s efforts to close the rural-urban divide.
Ultimately, while JJM has transformed rural water access, the project’s shortcomings highlight a pressing need for greater transparency and robust project management. By addressing these challenges proactively, Assam could achieve sustainable progress, turning a story of lapses into one of resilience and accountability. However, critics remain skeptical, and as JJM enters a new phase under increased scrutiny, its success or failure may well depend on the state’s ability to address both its internal and external issues effectively.