44 lakh households await tap water connections: Gehlot

Jaipur: Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday accused the BJP government of failing to implement the Jal Jeevan Mission effectively, claiming that 44 lakh households in the state were still awaiting tap water connections.

In a post on X, Gehlot said that the BJP had promised in its election manifesto to complete the mission by 2025. The state government had announced tap water connections for 25 lakh households in 2024-25 and another 20 lakh in 2025-26, but had now extended the deadline for completing the mission to 2028, he said, pointing out that his government had provided more than 14 lakh tap connections in 2022-23 alone.

The Congress leader alleged that payments of around Rs 3,200 crore to contractors had remained pending for the last two years. Citing a media report, he said work on 90 per cent of drinking water projects in Rajasthan had come to a standstill.

Tap water connection coverage under the mission stood at 59.24 per cent in the state compared to the national average of 82.52 per cent, placing it among the worst performers.

Questioning the BJP’s “double-engine” government, Gehlot asked why households in Rajasthan were still waiting for drinking water. Earlier, Gehlot had alleged that around 40 per cent of government schools in Sikar district had run out of foodgrain stocks under the mid-day meal scheme.

Schools have not received foodgrains or funds since July, while milk distribution to children had stopped after September, he said, adding that teachers and local donors were sponsoring the meals for students.

Gehlot alleged that cooks employed under the scheme, including several widowed and divorced women, had not received their honorarium for the last eight months. Accusing the BJP government of prioritising publicity over children’s welfare, Gehlot questioned why funds were available for advertisements but not for school meals and payments to cooks.

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