News Desk: Darjeeling MP Raju Bista met Union Minister for Jal Shakti, C.R. Paatil, to highlight corruption and implementation issues in the “Jal Jeevan Mission – Har Ghar Jal” projects across Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Bista urged a Central Team to investigate these concerns.
Bista revealed that the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of many projects lack proper water source identification and focus only on laying pipes and constructing tanks. He also flagged the use of substandard plastic pipes and poor quality construction, risking further complications, especially during monsoons. Existing tanks, some dating back to the British era, are being falsely presented as new, while others are built with poor materials.
Highlighting the challenges of the region’s mountainous terrain, Bista stressed that these projects need high engineering standards due to frequent rainfall and landslides. He also raised concerns over delays caused by the lack of clearance from the West Bengal Forest Department and the failure of the state government to ensure proper monitoring.
Having visited multiple sites and gathered citizen complaints with supporting evidence, Bista hopes the Minister will act swiftly to address these issues.
The Minister assured that a Central Team will investigate the matter and emphasized that the government plans to connect every household in Darjeeling hills, Terai, and Dooars through the initiative, with Rs 67,000 crore allocated for nationwide projects.