From Our Correspondent
TURA, March 20: Luchina Marak, a resident of Tikrikilla in West Garo Hills (WGH), has moved Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Chelani and the Executive Engineer of PHE (Tura North Division), alleging anomalies in the implementation of two schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in the Nidanpur area of the district.
The two projects are the water supply schemes of Nama Burijhar and that of Patharkata. While the Patharkata scheme covers three habitations and is being undertaken at a cost of over Rs 7.75 crore, the Pabomari-Nama Burijhar project costs just over Rs 5.51 crore.
Both projects fall under the Demdema C&RD Block.
The complaint comes following an RTI application by the resident, seeking information on the two projects after villagers informed her of poor implementation.
Interestingly in both the projects mentioned, the actual number of households is far lower than what has been projected.
As per reports, the Pathorkata JJM scheme covers 551 households with the dashboard showing a total of 500 households fully connected to the pipelines and getting water under the scheme. In the case of Nama Burijhar, the JJM dashboard shows 355 households being connected fully with FHT connections. “I verified the information on the RTI that I received and found that there was gross deviation in both schemes. There is no actual pipe connectivity despite the JJM dashboard’s claims in Pathorkata where the actual number of households connected is only 260. None of the connections have received water yet, with one section, Patharkata West, not even being connected through pipelines,” informed Luchina when contacted.
Further, in the Nama Burijhar scheme, Luchina informed that there were only about 60 households in the village and the figure of 355 households was not only misleading but pointed to deep anomalies taking place. “We found no pipe connection whatsoever in the village so from where did they arrive at 355 Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) being provided. Can anyone show us where the pipelines have been laid in the village so that we too can feel happy that people are benefiting under the JJM scheme?,” she added.
In her complaint, Luchina has sought an immediate inquiry into the matter while seeking action against those that have misled the people and the government on the scheme.
Meanwhile another set of villagers from Bhangarpar and Milpara under Tikrikilla have also complained to the EE of PHE – North Tura, alleging that despite there being no pipelines connected to their village, the JJM dashboard has shown 90 households receiving FHTC and access to tap water.
The two villages comprise a total of 558 households.
“Without a pipeline in our villages, where is the water coming? Where is the FHTC that has been shown? It is evident that not even a pipeline has been laid and no FHTC is there in our village not only for 90 that are apparently covered under the scheme but for all 558 households. This is not only misleading but a matter of grave concern,” informed the villagers in their complaint submitted in February.
Interestingly, despite their complaint more than a month ago, no progress has been made in providing the villages with access to water under the scheme, with the dashboard still showing the number of connections at 90.
The two villages are to be covered under the Tikrikilla Greater Water Supply Scheme (GWSS), which will cover a total of 83 villages.
PHE officials, when contacted, claimed that the misrepresentation in the number could have been a clerical error and was being looked into.