New Delhi, March 31 Six states have taken significant action by imposing penalties in cases of financial irregularities and poor-quality work under the Centre's Jal Jeevan Mission since 2021, the government informed the Rajya Sabha.
These states are Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Gujarat, Assam, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, it said.
In addition, Uttar Pradesh and Tripura have recovered money from contractors through liquidated damages, while Karnataka, along with Tripura, has reported recoveries through forfeiture of earnest money deposits (EMDs) and fixed deposit receipts (FDRs).
In a written reply to a question by Telangana MP K R Suresh Reddy, Minister of State for Jal Shakti V Somanna on Monday said that Gujarat reported the highest penalties imposed, at over Rs 120.65 crore, followed by Rajasthan at over Rs 5.34 crore and Maharashtra at over Rs 2.02 crore.
Tripura reported penalties of about Rs 1.22 crore, while Tamil Nadu and Assam reported Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5.08 lakh, respectively.
According to the reply, over Rs 12.84 crore has been recovered as penalties by states, including Rs 6.65 crore in Gujarat, Rs 3.77 crore in Rajasthan, about Rs 1.22 crore in Tripura, Rs 10.37 lakh in Maharashtra, Rs 3 lakh in Tamil Nadu and Rs 5.08 lakh in Assam.
In addition to these penalties, recovery mechanisms also include liquidated damages – pre-defined penalties imposed on contractors for delays or failure to meet contractual obligations – and forfeiture of EMDs and FDRs, involving the confiscation of security deposits submitted by contractors.
Uttar Pradesh and Tripura reported recoveries of Rs 340 crore and Rs 7.09 lakh, respectively, through liquidated damages.
Additionally, Karnataka and Tripura reported forfeitures of over Rs 1.01 crore and Rs 2.83 lakh, respectively, he said.
Action has been taken against 635 departmental officials, 1,020 contractors and 155 third-party inspection agencies, the minister said.
Somanna said that 18,790 complaints of financial irregularities and poor-quality work have been received under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) since 2020-21 from sources such as media reports, public representatives and grievance portals, of which enquiry reports have been submitted in 17,724 cases.
The government said that drinking water is a state subject, with the implementation, operation, and maintenance of schemes under JJM being the responsibility of state governments, while the Centre provides technical and financial support.