House Committee to Probe Multi-Crore JJM Scam in J&K

Sheikh Saleem

Srinagar, Apr 2: The House Committee Constituted to investigate alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Jammu and Kashmir is all set to ascertain the complaints soon with officials confirming that complaints regarding a multi-crore scam have been placed before the panel.

During the recent budget session of the J&K Assembly, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather announced the formation of the committee following persistent demands from the majority of lawmakers in the house.

The panel will scrutinize allegations of financial mismanagement and procedural violations in the execution of the centrally sponsored scheme.

According to official sources, both the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have forwarded complaints to the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which have now been placed before the House Committee for investigation.

Documents submitted to the committee point to grave financial irregularities and procedural violations in JJM’s implementation. Official sources told Kashmir Convener that the primary allegations include unapproved expenditure of ₹12,000 crore.

It has been alleged that the Jal Shakti Department allegedly spent ₹12,000 crore without obtaining mandatory administrative approval from the Administrative Council, chaired by the Lieutenant Governor. “The expenditure reportedly contradicts decisions taken in an August 2, 2022, meeting.”

Another major complaint pertains to unauthorized procurement. The Chief Engineers of Jal Shakti (PHE) in Jammu and Kashmir divisions allegedly procured Ductile Iron (DI), Galvanized Iron (GI), and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes worth ₹6,000 crore without clearance from the Departmental Contract Committee—a direct violation of the General Financial Rules (GFR) of the Government of India.

The committee will also probe excessive spending despite unmet targets. Despite the ₹12,000 crore expenditure, only 15,06,729 households have been connected to tap water, covering 80.50% of the target (18,69,467 households).

Shockingly, an additional ₹6,000 crore is now being sought to cover the remaining 3,62,788 households, raising concerns over inflated costs.

According to the official sources, another area of scrutiny is unaccounted civil works. According to complaints, the Chief Engineer, Jammu, reportedly placed pipe supply orders worth ₹4,000 crore, while the Chief Engineer, Kashmir, placed orders worth ₹2,000 crore.

“Given that ₹6,000 crore has already been spent on pipes, questions arise about the actual expenditure on civil works, suggesting negligible infrastructure development”.

The committee will also examine the dubious HDPE pipe procurement. As per complaints, HDPE pipes worth ₹600 crore were allegedly procured by the Chief Engineer, PHE, Jammu, without approvals from the Additional Chief Secretary, Chief Secretary, or the Lieutenant Governor. “The purchase is said to have violated financial regulations, with local contractors previously opposing HDPE pipes over concerns about quality and suitability,” sources. Quoted the complaint to be placed before the committee for verification.

Additionally, allegations of fraudulent inclusion of functional water supply schemes will be investigated. Several already operational water supply schemes were allegedly misrepresented as new projects under JJM to justify unnecessary procurement of GI/DI pipes, suggesting possible fund misappropriation.

There have also been complaints regarding lack of transparency in District Action Plans. Members of Pani Samitis across various districts were reportedly kept uninformed about the formulation of District Action Plans, raising suspicions about the authenticity of project approvals and fund allocations.

Official sources informed Kashmir Convener that the Department has already presented their defence in response to all these allegations and after ascertaining both the complaints as well as the defence, the House Committee will conduct a thorough investigation by examining financial records, procurement processes, and project execution reports.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather assured the Assembly during the budget session that the probe will be conducted with full transparency and appropriate action will follow based on the findings.

The committee’s first meeting is expected soon, where members will finalize the investigation roadmap and summon officials involved in JJM’s implementation.