Central agency joins probe in ‘Nal Se Jal’ scam in Gujarat: Reports

Even as the state government claims that over 91 lakh households received clean drinking water under the Nal Se Jal scheme in Gujarat, allegations of corruption have now triggered a wider probe, drawing the attention of central agencies in addition to the state CID-Crime, as per reports.

The scam, first exposed in Mahisagar district, has reportedly spread across several other districts, including Kheda, Banaskantha, Mehsana, Botad, Gir Somnath, and Junagadh, according to official records and multiple complaints received by the government.

The government has admitted in the Gujarat Assembly that 16 formal complaints of irregularities in the Jal Jeevan Mission have been registered so far. Despite an expenditure of ₹96 crore, several villages still do not have access to clean water as pipes are either missing or disconnected, and in some places, only taps have been installed without water supply.

Sources indicate that the corruption trail involves contractors, village sarpanches, and talatis, many of whom allegedly get away with the scam due to political connections. 

While state authorities were earlier accused of going slow on the investigation, central intervention may now speed up the process.

A third-party inspection initiated under the Centre’s directive found glaring irregularities. Projects shown as ‘completed’ were found non-functional on the ground. In several cases, payments were made to contractors for work that was either incomplete or never executed.