Speaking to the media, Girish Baruah, president of the Bongaigaon District Congress, described the Jal Jeevan Mission as a “flop show” and alleged that it had become one of the most corrupt schemes in the country. He said Jayanta Mallabaruah, who oversees the scheme in Assam, should be held responsible for the alleged irregularities.
Baruah claimed that Uttar Pradesh topped the list of alleged corruption cases under the scheme, with Assam ranking second. He further alleged that around Rs40,000 had been spent per family under the project, calling the expenditure unreasonably high.
According to him, the scheme has failed in most areas, with water supply remaining irregular. He alleged that public protests have been limited because many beneficiaries already had their own water arrangements. He also claimed that connections were mainly provided in areas where residents already had sufficient access to water, turning the scheme into an added facility rather than a necessity.
Baruah further alleged that areas genuinely facing water scarcity were deliberately excluded from the project, which he said helped prevent protests against the alleged scam. He accused Jayanta Mallabaruah of misappropriating public funds under the guise of the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Demanding accountability, the Congress leader called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations and warned that the party would intensify its agitation if corrective measures were not taken.
