Act on water supply project plaints, CM tells officials
Times of India | 27 November 2024
12 Kolkata: CM Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday directed officials to take stringent action against contractors who installed pipes without proper surveys, soil testing and water availability verification during the household water supply project.
She instructed DGP Rajeev Kumar and Bengal Police's Special Task Force to investigate the matter and asked chief secretary Manoj Pant and a Group of Ministers (GoM) to supervise the project.
The Jal Jeevan Mission, in which Centre and state contribute 50%, has been a contentious issue in Bengal with Banerjee questioning BJP's attempts to appropriate it as a central scheme despite the state footing most of the bills.
The state provided land, bore 25% of the cost and was responsible for approximately 90% of the project expenditure, the CM said. She asked the DGP to ensure "that no one obstructs the project as it is the responsibility of state govt and those who are obstructing it will not be able to get away and strong action will be taken".
Banerjee voiced her anger on reports of water supply interference and opposition to pipe installation in numerous areas. She reminded panchayat officials about state govt's obligation to provide drinking water to all households, instructing functionaries not to make demands where pipes were being installed.
"There are many complaints that pipes have been laid but water is not available. Only if water is available through taps then it can be said that water supply has been given. No misuse of water will be allowed. Even in the city there is misuse of water, some are stealing the taps. Airport has stopped water wastage (by using sensors in tap), such improvisation can be done," she said.
Banerjee asked PHE officials to expedite door-to-door water supply. Addressing PHE's staff shortage, she recommended deploying engineers from PWD or HRBC as a temporary measure. She also expressed concern about inadequate soil testing and asked DMs, SDOs and BDOs to monitor the process. She also asked for verification of household water connection records.
"Some people are drawing water illegally from pipes for their personal use and some for watering agriculture fields. The agriculture and irrigation departments must keep tabs on it. People cannot be deprived of their right to get potable water. Bengal has spent Rs 55,000 crore and another Rs 66,000 crore will be spent as the state plans to provide water supply to 1.7 crore households," Banerjee said.
The CM also instructed the finance, land and panchayat departments to oversee the project.