Shillong, April 9:The pending payment to be made for the contractors who are implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is over Rs 900 crore.
Till December last year, it was over Rs 700 crore.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, PHE Minister Marcuise Marak said the government will clear the dues of over 900 crore to the contractors implementing the JJM.
Marak said, “The pending bills of contractors implementing the JJM is more than Rs 900 crore, but the process of payment will start very soon after the completion of the process”, he said.
“We have signed an MoU for the implementation of JJM 2.0. All the projects completed- 75 to 100 percent -will be given payments once the office procedure is completed,” Marak sais.
The minister said the delay in payment was due to mandatory procedures required by the Government of India’s Ministry Jal Shakti, including reconciliation of expenditure and creation of Sujal Gaon ID for each project.
“Those projects which have completed 75 to 100 percent, the reconciliation process has already been done by the department. The Sujal Gaon ID is in the process now and will be completed,” Marak said.
Regarding the concerns over allegations of pipes being laid but no water supply, Marak attributed it to issues with sources and incomplete projects, assuring that the government is working on it.
The JJM 2.0 is a continuation of the mission, focusing on operation and maintenance, and sustainability of the projects, as mandated by the Centre.
To a question, the minister said the government has identified 737 water sources as critical ones
“We are taking initiatives to improve the water sources”, he added.
