By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 25: After terming the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Garo Hills a “scam”, State BJP vice president and Tura MDC, Bernard Marak has moved PHE Minister Marcuise Marak on the allegedly shoddy work being undertaken as part of central scheme.
In a letter to the PHE minister, the BJP vice president said, “I would like to request you to kindly look into the Jal Jeevan Mission implementation in Garo Hills including the villages, which fall under your constituency. The villagers in Garo Hills are facing immense difficulty in availing proper drinkable water, which is a basic need to the villagers”.
He alleged that most of the JJM works done remain incomplete and stand as a “scam” in many villages, as the “work done by contractors are sub-standard with non-functional tanks and pipelines.”
Alleging the misuses of central funds under the garb of JJM, he said, “An RTI has been submitted in every district through the Deputy Commissioners for which your instruction to the PHE departments to provide detailed information is prayed so that there is transparency and no manipulation”
Bernard told the minister that the villagers will also submit their complaints to the respective Sub Divisional Officers/Executive Engineers regarding the alleged anomalies, and a copy of the same would be sent to the minister. He stated that in most villages, the villagers were forced to sign the completion report of the works done without the work actually being completed and the household connections not covering every family.
“Families did not receive the drinkable running water which has turned out to be a scam rather than a scheme. Hence, it can conclude that there was a deliberate attempt to defeat the noble vision of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his sincere initiative to provide drinkable running water to every household,” he said further asking the Minister to do he needful.
