SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 03, 2026 : Only 44% of schemes taken up under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Jammu and Kashmir between 2019-20 and 2023-24 had been completed by December 2024, according to findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
The audit identified delays in project execution, underutilisation of funds, weaknesses in institutional planning and the absence of adequate operation and maintenance arrangements, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of completed water-supply schemes.
1,440 of 3,253 Schemes Completed
The audit found that out of 3,253 JJM schemes taken up in Jammu and Kashmir, only 1,440 had been completed by December 2024.
The Jal Jeevan Mission was launched on August 15, 2019, with the objective of providing Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to every rural household. The original deadline of December 2024 was subsequently extended to 2028.
77.15% Households Reported With Tap Connections
As of March 31, 2024, the government reported that 14,43,515 households, or 77.15%, had been provided with tap-water connections.
At the launch of the mission in August 2019, Jammu and Kashmir had 18,71,136 rural households, of which 5,75,466, or 30.75%, were reported to have tap connections.
The audit noted that 8,76,071 additional FHTCs were reported as having been provided between 2019-20 and 2023-24.
However, CAG found a discrepancy of 8,022 connections between the year-wise achievements and the total reported as of March 31, 2024. The reasons for the discrepancy were not available on record.
Annual Targets Not Achieved
The audit found that the targets established under the State Annual Action Plans were not achieved in several years.
| Financial Year | Target | FHTCs Provided | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 2,48,382 | 2,07,301 | — |
| 2020-21 | 2,32,731 | 2,15,578 | — |
| 2021-22 | 4,90,583 | 63,212 | 13% |
| 2022-23 | 7,73,639 | 42,555 | 6% |
| 2023-24 | 7,68,789 | 3,47,425 | 45% |
The particularly low achievement in 2022-23, when only 6% of the targeted connections were provided, highlighted the implementation difficulties identified by the audit.
Funds Underutilised
The CAG also found persistent underutilisation of funds, particularly during the initial years of the programme.
According to the audit, idle balances accumulated while schemes faced delays. Jammu and Kashmir also could not receive the full Central assistance available because of delays in utilisation of funds and failure to fulfil conditions required for release of further assistance.
The audit said funding for support activities ranged between 0.17% and 3.30%, below the prescribed ceiling of 5%.
For Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance, funding ranged from 0.08% to 1.07%, compared with the prescribed allocation of 2%.
Weaknesses in Planning and Institutional Mechanism
The audit found that the institutional mechanism responsible for implementing JJM was not fully operational or effective.
Among the shortcomings identified were:
- Shortfalls in prescribed meetings of District Water and Sanitation Missions
- Lack of a bottom-up approach in preparing plans
- Non-preparation of District Annual Action Plans
- Delays in tendering and awarding works
- Delays in signing agreements with contractors
- Delays in commencement of projects
- Absence of social audits
- Gaps in water-quality monitoring
Maintenance Plans Missing
One of the major concerns raised by CAG was the absence of adequate operation and maintenance plans for assets created under JJM.
The department had also not established a mechanism to ensure trained manpower at village level.
CAG noted that district-wise requirements for skilled manpower had not been assessed and that the department had not adequately engaged with the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana for training, certification and deployment of local youth.
The audit warned that without proper maintenance planning and local capacity building, the sustainability of completed water-supply schemes could be affected.
Four Districts Show Significant Delays
In the four districts selected for detailed examination — Kulgam, Anantnag, Kishtwar and Doda — only 429 of 853 schemes had been physically completed by November 2024.
Completion rates varied considerably:
- Doda: 48%
- Anantnag: 63%
- Kishtwar: 29%
- Kulgam: 36%
Waterborne Diseases Remain a Concern
The CAG audit also examined whether the implementation of JJM was accompanied by a reduction in waterborne diseases.
It found no significant decline in such diseases in the sampled districts, except Doda.
In Kishtwar and Kulgam, where scheme completion stood at 29% and 36% respectively, waterborne diseases remained prevalent and showed an increasing trend over the preceding five years.
In Anantnag, where 63% of schemes had been completed, the audit found no significant reduction in waterborne diseases during the period examined.
Water Quality Monitoring Gaps
The audit found that water-quality tests that failed at block- or district-level laboratories were not being referred to higher-level laboratories for further investigation.
CAG said the limited funding and utilisation for water-quality surveillance after 2021-22 indicated inadequate emphasis on water testing, community awareness and institutional capacity building.
CAG Recommendations
The audit recommended that the Jammu and Kashmir government:
- Ensure a bottom-up approach while preparing JJM plans
- Prioritise time-bound completion of incomplete schemes
- Establish a time-bound framework for awarding works and procuring materials
- Strengthen water-quality monitoring
- Improve the social-audit mechanism
- Develop proper operation and maintenance plans
- Build local technical capacity for maintaining completed schemes
The findings underline that providing tap connections is only one part of the Jal Jeevan Mission, with the audit stressing the importance of timely project completion, water quality, reliable service delivery and long-term maintenance.
