Following allegations by the Nagaland Transparency, Public Rights Advocacy & Direct Action Organization (NTPRADAO) regarding financial embezzlement and misappropriation linked to the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Nagaland, Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Minister Jacob Zhimomi provided clarifications to Hornbill TV.
NTPRADAO had earlier appealed to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to establish a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and issue a white paper to investigate the claims surrounding a reported “Rs. 1,712.03 crores” financial scandal. The organization highlighted concerns about the quality of water tanks, alleging that many do not meet central engineering specifications. Despite official claims of 92.23% coverage, NTPRADAO stated that numerous villages lack Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC), including areas close to political figures.
The organization further alleged that old tanks and pipelines were being passed off as new, and there were reports of misappropriated funds through collusion between WATSAN Committees and PHED officials. Many rural households, according to NTPRADAO, still lack access to clean, potable water. In villages where pipes have been installed, the layout was reported to be inconsistent with JJM guidelines, which mandate tap connections in every kitchen and bathroom.
In response to these allegations, Minister Zhimomi stated, “Our job was to provide tap connections to every household. We have accomplished this. In some difficult terrains, we implemented a cluster program, where one connection point serves two to three households as mandated by the JJM guidelines.” He added that the responsibility for connecting water to kitchens and toilets lies with the household owners.
Addressing the concern of households with piped facilities lacking water, Zhimomi explained, “Our JJM is currently in its first phase, which focuses on providing pipe infrastructure. Many villages lack access to bulk water, which is a challenge faced by several states. We are addressing this in the second phase and have requested the Government of India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti to incorporate this in future plans.”
Moreover, NTPRADAO raised issues about the use of inferior materials in constructing water storage tanks, citing non-compliance with JJM engineering standards. Zhimomi countered this claim, asserting, “All products used are ISI certified, coming from top manufacturing units. There is no question of inferior products.”
The NTPRADAO has also reported that Nagaland received Rs. 125 crores as part of the 15th Finance Commission Grants for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the financial year 2020-21. Of this amount, 50% (Rs. 62.05 crores) was earmarked for water supply and sanitation. NTPRADAO noted that the state’s 10% share over the years totals Rs. 143.07 crores, bringing the grand total of funds released for the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Nagaland to Rs. 1,712.03 crores. Despite this substantial financial allocation, concerns about fund mismanagement, inadequate implementation, and discrepancies in reported progress have been raised.
In response to these concerns, PHED Minister Jacob Zhimomi clarified the funding and implementation processes. “There are certain guidelines followed by NITI Aayog. NITI Aayog decided to allocate a portion of funds for water and sanitation under the Panchayati Raj system—maybe 15%. This fund is meant to implement water supply and sanitation. Grants designated for water and sanitation are not managed by the PHED but by the Rural Development Department of the Government of Nagaland. This is not within our domain, and the fund is not under our control. Funds from the 15th Finance Commission go directly to the Rural Development Department,” Zhimomi explained.
Regarding implementation, Zhimomi elaborated on the role of the WATSAN (Water and Sanitation) committees. “Each village has a WATSAN committee, which includes a convenor and members. Payments are made to the WATSAN committee, and if contractors are involved, they are also chosen by WATSAN. The department only supervises the process, and there is a third party that conducts inspections. There is no question of misuse of funds by the department,” he added.