- Strict action on defaulting contractors
Bhopal, In a massive crackdown on inefficiency and malpractice, the Madhya Pradesh Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department has blacklisted a total of 280 agencies for delays in implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) projects across the state. This assertive move underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring timely delivery of clean drinking water and upholding high standards of transparency and quality.
Beyond the extensive blacklist, the department has terminated contracts with 22 contractors for persistent non-performance. Furthermore, severe disciplinary action has been initiated against 10 PHE officials found guilty of supplying substandard materials or violating tender procedures. Highlighting a firm stance against fraud, the department also lodged a CBI case against a contractor for submitting a fake bank guarantee, alongside contract termination. The department has collectively levied approximately ?30 crore in penalties against defaulting agencies.
= Focus on project quality and speed
During a review meeting, Principal Secretary P. Narhari informed Chief Secretary Anurag Jain that the state has already provided tap water connections to over 80.52 lakh households, achieving a remarkable 72% coverage and positioning Madhya Pradesh as a leading state in the mission. The Chief Secretary directed officials to significantly accelerate work on remaining schemes to meet the time-boud goal of providing potable water to every rural household, emphasizing robust quality control and continuous monitoring.
= Accountability for flawed planning
The crackdown extended to internal accountability, with 141 PHE officials, ranging from Sub-Engineers to Executive Engineers, served show-cause notices for preparing flawed Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for water supply schemes. The department’s review committee identified errors in 8,358 revised single-village water schemes, leading to similar notices being issued to 187 planning agencies responsible for the faulty DPRs. This ensures accountability from both external and internal stakeholders.
