Senapati: PIL Filed in Manipur HC over Irregularities in JJM Implementation

UKHRUL, NOV 19: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Manipur High Court on Wednesday, alleging irregularities in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Senapati district, Manipur.

The PIL, filed by R. K. Paul, a social worker and resident of Oklong Maryram village, raised grave concerns about mismanagement, corruption, non-execution of works, and falsification of official records in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and the New Development Bank (NDB)-financed rural water supply projects in Senapati district.

In the PIL, Paul seeks urgent judicial intervention to safeguard the constitutional rights of rural and tribal communities who continue to remain without basic drinking water facilities despite official claims of “near 100% coverage”.

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The petition stated that despite the sanction and release of crores of public funds to the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), significant portions of the sanctioned water supply projects in Senapati district remain non-existent on the ground. The petitioner relies on replies obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) and official dashboard data, findings from community inspections and village testimonies, media reports and accounts from public meetings, and photographic and video documentation.

According to the PIL, villages such as Oklong Maryram, Rajaimai, Makuilongdi, and Oklong (NDB Project) show wide gaps between official reporting and actual implementation, including the absence of GI pipelines and household tap connections, non-functional or unused reservoirs and distribution tanks, supply of inferior materials like rubber pipes and plastic taps in place of mandated infrastructure, falsification of dashboard entries claiming “100% household tap coverage”, and reports of financial discrepancies and alleged diversion of funds.

The petition asserts that these acts amount to grave administrative failure, breach of public trust, and prima facie criminal misconduct, directly violating the fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.

The PIL has sought the following directions from the High Court of Manipur:

1. An independent investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) into JJM and NDB-funded projects in Senapati district.
2. Comprehensive forensic and financial audit by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) or another competent central agency.
3. Public disclosure of all project-related documents, including DPRs, utilisation certificates, measurement books, contractor bills, and beneficiary lists.
4. Accountability measures, including disciplinary and criminal action against officials or contractors responsible for misappropriation or falsification of records.
5. Time-bound completion and rectification of all unexecuted or defective JJM works under the supervision of an independent expert committee.
6. Appointment of a Local Commissioner/Monitoring Committee to conduct periodic field verifications and file reports before the Court.

The PIL emphasised that the alleged discrepancies have caused irreparable harm to rural and tribal households, particularly in remote hill villages that lack alternative sources of safe drinking water.

Stating that the right to safe and adequate drinking water is a fundamental part of the right to life under Article 21, the petitioner argues that official claims of “completed” projects, despite non-existent infrastructure, constitute arbitrary and discriminatory governance, violating Article 14. Moreover, misuse of public funds and suppression of records undermine constitutional mandates of transparency and accountability under Articles 38, 39(b), 41, and 47, it stated.

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The PIL has been registered today and is expected to be listed before the Division Bench of the High Court of Manipur. Given the scale of allegations and the potential implications for public health, fiscal responsibility, and governance in the State, the matter is likely to receive significant judicial and public attention.