ZSUM alleges substandard JJM scheme work
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 15 2024: Zeliangrong Students' Union Manipur (ZSUM) has claimed that they have found many incomplete projects, poor-quality constructions, and deviation from the approved (DPR) plan, which have left many water supply projects executed under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) Har Ghar Jal scheme, non-func tional in Tamenglong and Noney districts.

As per a release, ZSUM carried out a survey in response to numerous grievances and complaints from various villages across Tamenglong and Noney districts regarding the substandard execution of water supply scheme under New Development Bank (NDB) project awarded to Vishnu Prakash R Punglia Limited Company.

ZSUM also appreciated the vision and effort of the Government of India in planning and executing the water supply project, which was launched in 2019, while noting that the scheme aims to provide safe and reliable tap water by 2024 to all rural households, reduce the rural-urban divide, improve public health, and ensure the functionality of existing water supply system.

"The water supply comes with Construction of Intake, Construction of Reservoir, Construction of Settling Tank, and Construction of Distribution Tank, whereas we discovered only two tanks in most of the projects".

Despite the allocated amount disbursed or withdrawn, it is very shocking and unfortunate to find improper constructions of the water supply, which directly impacts the villager's access to clean and reliable water.

These substandard constructions and inadequate implementation can lead to leaks, contamination, insufficient water delivery, and undermining the project's purpose, it said.

ZSUM asserted that such negligence not only undermines the integrity of the project but also jeopardises the well-being of the thou sands of villagers who depend on this system for their daily needs.

"We appeal to the government and authority concerned to immediately intervene, conduct a thorough inspection of the entire work projects of Tamenglong and Noney districts without delay and ensure strict compliance with detail profile report (DPR) in the larger interest of the people".

"Accountability and corrective measures must be enforced to safe guard public funds and deliver intended benefits to the people," the students' body stressed.

Mentioning that the union and the people of Tamenglong and Noney districts take this issue very seriously, ZSUM stated that it is crucial to ensure that public resources are utilised effectively.

"Therefore, if the government and authority concerned ignore our voice and neglect our concern, we will be compelled to take up stringent action and exercise our democratic right," it cautioned, while adding, "We will continue to advocate for transparency and accountable to resolve this issue and ensure the successful implementation of the water supply scheme".

Claiming that some individuals, firms, companies, and agencies operating in Tamenglong and Noney districts are manipulating public ignorance for long, ZSUM urged for ceasing the culture of misusing public fund once and for all.

Comment