Banerjee, who held a meeting at Nabanna on the progress of the ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ with Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and top officials of PHE Department, raised a question mark on the project, saying she has concrete information that in many cases pipelines were installed but water was not reaching the households.

“The administration is responsible for providing drinking water to every house. Merely installing pipelines does not ensure water supply. In all the houses where the pipelines go, it must be ensured that the water is actually reaching there,” the CM said.

The state has set a target of providing drinking water connection to every household in the state by April 2025. In all, 1.77 crore houses are supposed to be given water connections.

The PHE Department claims to have provided water connections to 90 percent of homes.

Later, in a press conference, the Chief Minister said, “I have received complaints that many contractors have laid pipelines without soil testing and water source verification. If the allegations are found to be true after investigation, strict action will be taken against such contractors. The DGP should look into the matter and give the task to a special task force (STF).”

Targeting the Central government, Banerjee said, “The state government spends a lot of money to deliver drinking water. But the Centre only promotes itself. Rs 55,000 crore has already been spent on this. Another Rs 66,000 crore are in the pipeline. In fact, 90 per cent cost of the project is borne by the state.”