Pattan, Dec 15(KNB): A delegation of the House Committee of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, chaired by Hon’ble Chairman Mr. Hasnain Masoodi, MLA, along with MLA Pattan Mr. Riyaz Baidar, the Managing Director Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), and senior officials from concerned departments, conducted an on-the-spot inspection of Jal Jeevan Mission schemes at various locations across the Pattan constituency on Sunday.
The visit followed a formal written complaint dated July 22, 2025, submitted to the House Committee by the J&K RTI Foundation, alleging serious irregularities, violations of Jal Jeevan Mission guidelines, and denial of equitable drinking water access in village Mallabuchan, Tehsil Pattan, District Baramulla.
According to the complaint, the village was allegedly bifurcated for water supply purposes between two districts—Budgam and Baramulla—without Gram Sabha consent, resulting in exclusion of several households from JJM coverage. The complaint also raised concerns regarding non-disclosure of Village Action Plans (VAPs), misreporting of beneficiaries, non-utilisation of funds under IEC and water quality monitoring components, and supply of water allegedly not conforming to prescribed drinking water standards.
During the inspection, the committee members interacted with local residents, heard their grievances in detail, and attempted to resolve several issues on the spot, while assuring further scrutiny of the matters raised in the complaint.
During the visit, the Hon’ble Chairman and the concerned MLA concurred with the public view that the Ahmadpora water supply scheme, catering to several villages, is not fit for drinking purposes. The Jal Jeevan Mission department was advised to take cognizance of the issue and initiate immediate corrective measures to ensure the supply of safe and potable drinking water to the affected population.
The House Committee also took serious note of the drinking water crisis in village Mallabuchan, which falls under two different PHE divisions— PHE Division Beerwah and PHE Division Tangmarg—located in two separate districts. The committee was informed that due to this administrative bifurcation, nearly 30–35 households of the village remain excluded from the water supply scheme and are currently without any water connectivity.
Taking serious cognizance of the matter, the Hon’ble Chairman directed the Jal Jeevan Mission department to explore all feasible options to connect the left-out households with the existing water supply scheme under PHE Division Beerwah at the earliest, so as to ensure equitable access to safe drinking water.
The House Committee assured that the issues raised in the July 22 complaint, as well as those highlighted during the on-spot inspection, would be examined in detail and that appropriate administrative and corrective action would be taken wherever lapses are established.(KNB)