JJM in Shambles: Rs 1.26 Cr Project Lies Abandoned in Assam's Chabua

Guwahati: The Jal Jeevan Mission, often showcased by the government as a flagship initiative to provide safe drinking water to every rural household, presents a grim and troubling picture on the ground in parts of Assam. A visit to Chabua's Dangar Chuk village in Assam's Dibrugarh district reveals a project that exists only on paper—abandoned, overgrown, and emblematic of deep administrative neglect.

Nearly three years ago, a Jal Jeevan Mission project was sanctioned in the village with the promise of providing clean drinking water to around 400 households. The project, constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1.26 crore, was meant to transform the daily lives of villagers by ensuring “Har Ghar Nal Se Jal.” Today, that promise lies broken.

Shockingly, not only has potable water failed to reach a single household, but even the basic infrastructure remains incomplete. The overhead water tank—central to the entire scheme—has not been installed to date. Pipelines meant to connect homes stand useless, with no water supply system in place.

What now stands at the project site is a symbol of decay. The facility is engulfed by dense bushes and wild vegetation, making it resemble an abandoned structure rather than a public utility. Rust has eaten into the gates, rendering them impossible to open—clear evidence that the site has been left unattended for years.

Residents allege gross negligence on the part of the concerned department and contractors. For villagers, the Jal Jeevan Mission has turned into a cruel joke—one where crores of public money have been spent, yet the most basic necessity of life remains out of reach.

“This is nothing but a waste of government funds,” said angry residents while speaking to DY365. “They come, they lay foundations, they take photos—and then they disappear. We are still struggling for drinking water.”

The outrage in Dangar Chuk is growing. Villagers are now demanding a high-level inquiry into the project, accountability of officials involved, and immediate steps to either complete the scheme or explain where the money has gone.

The question remains: who will answer for this jungle of neglect built with public money?

ALSO READ: Child Dies After Falling Into Open Jal Jeevan Mission Water Tank in Assam