SHILLONG, APR 30: In a push to improve functionality of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) projects, PHE Minister Marcuise N Marak has asked all Deputy Commissioners to hold monthly District Water and Sanitation Committee (DWSC) meetings and upload proceedings on the Centre’s IMIS portal for real-time review.
Addressing the media after chairing the meeting on Thursday, Marak said ID creation for JJM infrastructure, as mandated by the Centre, is in advanced stages.
“The department has already created the ID for out village infrastructure – 1931 IDs have covered for 6772 habitations and 51 IDs for out village infrastructure is still pending,” he said.
On in-village components, he noted, “In-village infrastructure is also there for which 1570 IDs have been covered and for that, 2500 habitations have been finalized leaving just 89 IDs in draft level.”
Marak stressed that DCs, as DWSC chairmen, will be central to monitoring and ensuring village-level accountability.
“They will have to monitor and have meetings and the minutes of the meetings will have to be uploaded on the IMIS based on which the government of India will be able to review and follow up the matters,” he said.
He added that field-level engagement is key.
“…the DC along with the gram sevaks, those projects which are functional well, the village water and sanitation committees are taking care of the projects and if they are not taking care, how will they be entrusted and how they will be convinced to take ownership of the projects to make it functional for the betterment of the village.”
To address technical gaps, the state has set up “district technical units where any technical issues, the district technical units will identify and report to the deputy commissioners and accordingly deputy commissioners will report back to the state government.”
Confirming the Centre’s directive, Marak said, “The government of India has mandated the DWSCs to strictly monitory the projects under JJM.”
He said DCs have been told to meet monthly. “Yes we have instructed all DCs to hold regular meetings especially DWSCs because they will have to upload the minutes in the IMIS and based on that minutes, government will be able to see the performances. Every month they will have to do it as every month progress is being monitored.”
On reports of completed pipelines without water supply, the Minister said DWSCs will diagnose the reasons.
“Huge infrastructures are being created through JJM. As you have said pipes are already there but what is the reason, this the DWSCs will find out what are the issues. If pipes are there why water is not there,” he said.
He listed possible factors and stated, “Whether it is a source issue, that also we have instructed the DWSCs to find out what the reason of the source issue or else what is the reason why water not there in the pipes.”
Ownership reluctance is also a problem, he admitted.
“Probably it is not caring, probably caring is already given to the DWSCs but they are reluctant to take over the project, that is the reason why things are not working well.”
Marak clarified that oversight covers all stages. “Those projects which are undergoing they are also doing the laying of pipes and everything. Other than ongoing projects, those completed projects are also to be monitored.”
Pushing back on criticism, he said, “That is why people/vlogers are saying JJM is not successful. I am telling everyone of them we will not leave all those projects, we will make sure that functionality is there.”
He added, “PHE department alone cannot convince the people out there but if DCs and BDOs are involved, state machineries are involved, we will be able to address the issue.”
“We will be requesting all the stakeholders to cooperate with the government to make it functional and for the sustainability of the projects,” Marak said.
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