Baramulla, Dec 15, KNT: A delegation of the House Committee of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Sunday conducted an on-the-spot inspection of Jal Jeevan Mission schemes at various locations in the Pattan constituency, taking serious note of alleged irregularities and gaps in drinking water supply.
The inspection was led by the Committee Chairman, Hasnain Masoodi, MLA, and was accompanied by MLA Pattan Riyaz Baidar, the Managing Director of Jal Jeevan Mission, and senior officials of concerned departments. The visit followed a written complaint submitted on July 22, 2025, by the J&K RTI Foundation, alleging violations of JJM guidelines and denial of equitable access to drinking water in village Mallabuchan of Tehsil Pattan in Baramulla district.
According to the complaint, the village was allegedly bifurcated for water supply purposes between Budgam and Baramulla districts without the consent of the Gram Sabha, resulting in the exclusion of several households from the JJM network. The complaint also flagged non-disclosure of Village Action Plans, alleged misreporting of beneficiaries, non-utilisation of funds earmarked for information, education, communication and water quality monitoring, and supply of water not conforming to prescribed drinking standards.
During the visit, committee members as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust interacted with locals, listened to their grievances, and attempted to address some issues on the spot, while assuring a detailed examination of the allegations raised.
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The Chairman and the local MLA concurred with public concerns that the Ahmadpora water supply scheme, which caters to multiple villages, is not fit for drinking purposes. The Jal Jeevan Mission department was advised to take immediate cognizance of the issue and initiate corrective measures to ensure the supply of safe and potable water.
The House Committee also took serious note of the drinking water crisis in village Mallabuchan, which falls under two separate PHE divisions, Beerwah and Tangmarg, located in different districts. The committee was informed that due to this administrative division, nearly 30 to 35 households remain excluded from the water supply scheme and currently have no water connectivity.
Directing prompt action, the Chairman asked the Jal Jeevan Mission department to explore all feasible options to connect the left-out households with the existing water supply scheme under PHE Division Beerwah at the earliest, to ensure equitable access to drinking water.
The House Committee assured that all issues raised in the July 22 complaint, as well as those highlighted during the on-site inspection, would be examined thoroughly and that appropriate administrative and corrective action would be taken wherever lapses are established. [KNT]
