The investigation of alleged irregularities in the Water Life Mission in Jammu and Kashmir has gone into paperwork – quite literally.
In March, after a debate during the budget session, the J&K Assembly established a house committee to investigate the claims of irregularities. In response to the request of the committee for documents, the Water Power Department has written that, based on an average of 200 to 250 pages per plan – under the mission there are 3,253 schemes – each set will run in about 7.3 lakh pages.
Since the committee has sought 18 sets for members and concerned employees, the department has written that it will require more than 1.30 crore pages.
The department has demanded an expansion to submit the documents, stating that “this exercise will not require much time for compilation, but will also require huge resources to set/photocopy the required number.”
Speaker Abdul Rahim announced the Constitution of the House Committee to “fulfill” the “apprehensions” of both Treasury and Opposition benches after a march debate on JJM’s implementation. It held its first meeting on 22 May.
The chairman of the committee, Hasanan Masudi of the National Conference said that the next meeting is scheduled on Friday, June 27.
“We have sought documents on JJM. However, he has sought some time because he said that the documentation is voluntary. I am hoping that by Friday, they will be able to table it,” Masudi told the Indian Express.
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On August 15, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Water Life Mission by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide a functional domestic tap connection to each rural house.
The J&K House Committee has been investigating the alleged irregularities in the scheme since implementation in that year. The expenditure declared under the scheme till date in UT is more than Rs 7,000 crore.
The committee has requested the department for data about JJM works, detailed project, tender notices, bid documents, technical and evaluation reports related to the year-wise financial allocation and its use as well as other documents from the relevant ministry.
Water Life Mission (T) Needs for Jammu and Kashmir Water Life Mission Documents (T) Jammu and Kashmir Water Life Mission Document Verification
