CAG finds 33.22% of JJM households in 10 districts still lack tap connections

Who it concerns: Government of West Bengal, specifically the Public Health Engineering Department (JJM) and the Transport Department (RTOs/STAs).

What the auditor found

• Only 34% of rural households in West Bengal had Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) as of March 2024, leaving 1.16 crore households uncovered.
• Of the total Central allocation of ₹19,595.02 crore for 2019-24, only ₹10,502.85 crore (53.60%) was released due to poor financial progress.
• 85.27% (7,961 out of 9,336) of approved schemes were incomplete as of December 2024.
• ₹1.62 crore was wasted on Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for 707 schemes that were subsequently dropped due to improper planning.
• ₹2.13 crore expenditure was rendered wasteful and ₹2.96 crore unfruitful due to non-functional or ineffective Community Water Purification Plants (CWPPs).
• ISAs received an undue benefit of ₹7.25 crore as agency profit without providing affidavits confirming charitable use.
• ₹6.41 crore was incurred on inadmissible repair, maintenance, and office renovation works in five districts.
• None of the 455 completed schemes in test-checked districts were handed over to local communities for Operation & Maintenance (O&M).
• 87 out of 88 test-checked laboratories did not test for sulphate and nitrate, posing a serious risk.
• Transport Department audits found non-realisation of various fees including registration, permit, fitness, and road taxes, as well as plying of vehicles without permits.

Also in the document

• CAG found that despite a 2021 deadline, only 33.22% of households in 10 districts affected by Japanese Encephalitis had tap connections as of April 2024.
• CAG reported that 18% of schools and around 50% of Anganwadi centres in the state lacked tap connections.
• CAG noted that 87 out of 88 laboratories failed to test for sulphate and nitrate, which are critical water quality parameters.
• CAG observed that 10% of the cost of works was added as agency profit to ISAs, resulting in an undue benefit of ₹7.25 crore.