Staff shortage, delayed payments hit Jal Jeevan projects in Rajouri

The implementation of several schemes under the Jal Jeejeevan Mission has slowed down in the border district of Rajouri due to delays in payments to executing agencies and an acute shortage of manpower, the government has said.

In a reply to a question by local MLA Iftkar Ahmed, the government stated that construction work on a number of schemes has been affected due to non-payment of work-done claims to executing agencies. “The progress and hence the completion of schemes is contingent upon the fund’s availability,” the reply stated.

The government clarified that while the projects have not been formally abandoned, delays have occurred as contractors await payments, affecting the pace of execution.

It also informed that the Government of India has extended the Jal Jeevan Mission till 2028.

The reply further highlighted an acute shortage of manpower in the civil and mechanical wings responsible for operating and maintaining water supply schemes in the district.

According to official figures, against a sanctioned strength of 137 field functionaries in the PHE Rajouri division, only 84 posts are filled, leaving 53 vacancies. In the Nowshera division, 31 posts are filled against 47 sanctioned positions, while in the PHE Mechanical division, 10 of the 45 sanctioned posts remain vacant.

The government said that some newly completed and commissioned schemes have faced manpower shortages for effective operation and maintenance. However, the situation is being managed through rationalisation and internal deployment of available staff to ensure continued operation of essential water supply services.