RDPR Minister Eshwar B Khandre reviewed the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission in Karnataka and directeds officials to initiate action against L&T over delays in the multi-village drinking water supply project
Reviewing the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in State, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) minister Eshwar Khandre directed the officials to initiate action against L&T. The RDPR officials informed the minister that L&T, which was entrusted with supplying drinking water from the Renukasagar reservoir to rural areas in Dharwad and Belagavi districts and Kalaghatagi town, had failed to initiate even the procurement of water pipelines despite being served a final notice. The officials also pointed out that the company had failed to deploy adequate manpower, resulting in the work progressing at an extremely slow pace. It had also not submitted the mandatory progress reports. However, there had been little improvement despite repeated instructions, prompting him to order action against L&T, including blacklisting. The minister further instructed officials to take stringent action against contractors who fail to deploy adequate manpower or place orders for the required pipelines.
With Karnataka already grappling with drinking water shortages due to deficient rainfall, he stressed that timely completion of these projects was crucial to ensuring reliable water supply to rural households.
Cautioning that the government would not tolerate delays except those arising from pending forest clearances, Khandre said the purpose of the Jal Jeevan Mission would be defeated if projects were not completed on time. The minister also expressed dissatisfaction over the slow progress of several other multi-village drinking water projects and directed officials to issue final notices immediately to all contractors responsible for delays.