Jaipur. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has flagged serious financial and administrative irregularities in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). According to the CAG report, contractors were paid around ₹122.31 crore for 26 regional water supply projects up to December 2024 without completing the mandatory third-party inspection and certification process. The audit also identified alleged irregular payments of ₹7.70 crore based on fake and fabricated bills.
The CAG reviewed procurement, tendering, payment mechanisms and other expenditure under the scheme. The report highlighted several instances of non-compliance with prescribed procedures, delays in finalising tenders and underutilisation of funds allocated for the programme.
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₹7.70 crore allegedly paid on fabricated bills
The audit found that false and fabricated bills were allegedly prepared for selected works. Payments amounting to around ₹7.70 crore were made on the basis of these documents. According to the report, some of the bills used for payment were actually associated with other contractors.
The CAG treated the matter as a serious financial irregularity and questioned how bills belonging to other contractors were accepted for payment and why the supporting documents were not properly verified before the funds were released.
Pipes purchased before tender opening
The CAG also raised questions over the procurement of pipes for a Jal Jeevan Mission project in Karauli. According to the report, the pipes were purchased even before the tender for the work had been opened.
The material was subsequently transferred to Sojat City before the required No Objection Certificate (NOC) was issued. The sequence of events has raised questions over the transparency of the tender and procurement process. The audit also examined why the purchase and subsequent transfer of material were undertaken without following the prescribed procedures.
₹3.28 crore spent on foundation-laying ceremonies
Expenditure on foundation-laying ceremonies for water supply projects has also come under the CAG’s scrutiny. A review of records in June 2024 found that ₹3.28 crore had been spent during 2022-23 on such ceremonies.
According to the CAG, Jal Jeevan Mission guidelines do not permit project funds to be used for support activities and publicity. The expenditure on the ceremonies was therefore considered irregular and contrary to the scheme’s guidelines.
In its response in November 2025, the state government argued that the expenditure had been approved by the Finance Department. However, the CAG rejected the explanation and maintained its audit objection, stating that approval at another level could not override the specific guidelines governing the use of JJM funds.
91.69% of water quality budget remained unused
The CAG also highlighted the poor utilisation of funds earmarked for water quality monitoring and surveys. According to the report, ₹486.23 crore was available for these activities between 2019 and January 20, 2025.
However, only ₹40.39 crore was spent during the period. This means just 8.31% of the available allocation was utilised, while ₹445.84 crore, or 91.69%, remained unspent.
The audit noted the significant gap between the funds available for monitoring water quality and the amount actually utilised, raising questions over the effectiveness of planning and implementation of these activities.
Tender delays left 1.52 lakh rural households without water
Delays in the tender process also affected the delivery of JJM services to rural households. According to the CAG report, alleged negligence by the Public Health Engineering Department resulted in cancellation of tenders, with work on the concerned projects not commencing until September 2024.
As a result, 1,52,437 rural households in 14 villages across Baran, Jhalawar and Kota districts remained deprived of Jal Jeevan Mission water for more than three years, the report said.
Project deadlines repeatedly extended
The CAG also pointed to repeated extensions granted to contractors working on the Regional Water Supply Project in Baran. According to the audit, the department did not act with sufficient urgency to finalise the tenders and ensure timely completion of the project.
The report has raised questions over tender finalisation, project monitoring and the system for ensuring timely execution of works. The findings indicate that the concerns surrounding the Jal Jeevan Mission were not limited to financial irregularities but also involved procurement, monitoring, fund utilisation and delays in delivering the intended benefits to rural households.
The action taken by the concerned authorities on the audit findings and the government’s response to the CAG observations will now be significant in determining accountability for the irregularities flagged in the report.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
