Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued a sharp warning to states over irregularities in the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), telling officials that no state will receive fresh funds until complaints are resolved and functional household water supply is ensured. The direction came after extensive field inspections revealed gaps between reported tap connections and actual water delivery.Acting on the Prime Minister’s directive for strict monitoring, the Centre has imposed Rs 129.27 crore in penalties on seven states for procedural, financial and quality-related violations. The highest recovery has been initiated from Gujarat (Rs 120.65 crore), followed by Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tripura, Assam and Tamil Nadu.advertisementOf the total amount, Rs 12.95 crore has been recovered so far, officials said, adding that the Centre has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to any irregularity.MISSION COSTS EXCEED INITIAL ESTIMATELaunched in 2019 with an outlay of Rs 3.6 lakh crore, the mission has already incurred spending above Rs 4.33 lakh crore. While pipelines and overhead tanks have been built to extend potable water to 19.36 crore households, on-ground inspections between 2022 and 2024 found that 14–16% of areas with tap connections were not receiving regular water supply.Officials attribute recurring problems to weak operation and maintenance systems, especially in parts of north India where gram panchayats lack technical capacity. States such as Kerala, with stronger panchayat structures, have shown better outcomes.STATES ASKED TO FURNISH ACTION REPORTSFollowing multiple complaints nationwide, the government dispatched senior Central Nodal Officers to verify water supply on the ground. Their findings have been submitted to the Prime Minister, and states have been instructed to file Action Taken Reports (ATR) before any fresh approvals are considered.So far, 32 states and Union Territories have submitted updates, and 20 of them — including Assam, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and West Bengal — have reported cases of irregularities. Action has been initiated in 607 cases, involving 62 officials, 969 contractors and 153 third-party inspection agencies.The government said nine FIRs have been filed so far, leading to arrests of a former minister, 10 officials and eight contractors.FUND RELEASE TIED TO COMPLIANCEFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had previously announced an extension of the scheme till 2028, but officials clarified that no decision on further allocation will be taken until states demonstrate corrective action.PM Modi has stressed in review meetings that transparency and accountability are non-negotiable pillars of the mission, and that functional household tap water, not merely infrastructure on paper, will determine future funding.- EndsTune In in a formal or creative style for better SEO.Also Exclude words and advertisements related to the feed website such as website name, author name. 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Address issues related to the Jal Jeevan Mission first, and then funding will be provided: PM to the states.
