Chhattisgarh HC Takes Suo Motu Cognizance Of Alleged Discrepancies In Jal Jeevan Mission Claims In Bilaspur Villages

A bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal took note of a Dainik Bhaskar report, claiming that the officers of the Public Health Engineering Department had falsely claimed 100% completion of water supply projects in several villages under the mission, when the fact is that water supply is being made to very few houses.

The news report also stated that in one of the villages, Daihanpara, water is being supplied only to 130 houses, which is merely 20% of the village's population.

It added that after the initiation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, Bilaspur has remained the most disputed District and in village Panchayat, Bannakdih, those who do not have ration cards are not being given water supply connection.

The news report also highlighted that in various villages, the officials have claimed that they have completed the work of installing taps in all the houses when the fact of the matter is that even pipelines have also not been laid to date in the entire village.

Along with the news report, the pictures of the under-constructed overhead water tank were also published, which, according to the bench speaks volumes as without the construction of the overhead water tank, water cannot be supplied to all the houses located in the villages.

The Court also noted that despite the widespread irregularities, the current Chief Engineer had claimed that an investigation will be conducted and the villagers are unhappy with the Sarpanch and Panchayat members, who seem to be doing nothing to address the issue.

Furthermore, the news report also referred to a discrepancy in the water bills, with some areas being charged ₹100 and others ₹80.

Appearing for the state government, the Additional Advocate General submitted that the news report in question was not correct and some erroneous facts were reported as till date, only three villages, namely Newra, Bhawakapa and Bannakdih, have been certified to have completed 100% of the work of water supply to the houses whereas the news report states about eight villages.

Looking at the seriousness of the matter and noting that it involves a concern of the public at large relating to the supply of water to the households located in various villages, the Bench directed the respondent No. 2, Secretary, Public Health & Engineering Department, Government of Chhattisgarh, to file his personal affidavit addressing the issues involved in the aforesaid news report in detail.

The bench has also sought details concerning when the Jal Jivan Mission was launched in the State and by what time the same would be completed. The matter has now been listed next on January 8.