The Assam government recently decided to temporarily halt all projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and has ordered an audit amid concerns over a section of contractors failing to meet project deadlines. In February 2023, the then minister of state for Jal Shakti, Prahlad Singh Patel, informed the Lok Sabha that Gujarat, Telangana, Haryana, Goa, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu have reported 100% coverage of rural households. On the other hand, among the Northeastern states, Arunachal Pradesh had achieved the highest target of 70% while Assam the least, just over 42%.
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The Centre in partnership with states has been implementing the JJM since August 2019 to make the provision of assured potable water to every rural household through tap water connection at a service level of 55 litre per capita per day (lpcd), of prescribed quality (BIS:10500), on a regular and long-term basis. The estimated outlay of the mission is ₹3.60 lakh crore out of which the central share is ₹2.08 lakh crore. Now the Assam government has halted all JJM work and ordered an audit. The contractors meanwhile are irked as their payments are on hold. But this is not the only scheme which is implemented poorly in Assam.
Guwahati performed poorly in fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream project of turning cities into smart cities. After 2023 the Guwahati Smart City Ltd stopped getting central funds and did not become smart in five years of getting the project. Guwahati was one of the first 20 cities across India selected under Smart City Mission. Failure of flood management and flood protection structures, deforestation/watershed degradation, and encroachment of riverine areas were among the major reasons as recognised by the government for the annual floods in Assam. Huge amount of money is pumped in the state every year to combat floods but none of the flood management schemes were ever a 100% success. Recently the state government has again announced a significant investment of ₹200 crore. The government revealed the initiative recently detailing plans under the Integrated Urban Flood Risk Management Project aimed at making the city free from flooding. Hope this is not again a failed initiative.