Rajasthan High Court orders recovery of ₹130 crore mismanaged in Jal Jeevan Mission

The Rajasthan High Court has ordered the state government to recover approximately ₹130 crore that was allegedly disbursed under the Jal Jeevan Mission without any actual work being performed. The court noted that while criminal proceedings against officials are ongoing, the state must strictly pursue the recovery of these wrongfully disbursed public funds from those responsible.

In a related development, Congress general secretary Sachin Pilot criticized the Rajasthan government following a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report. Pilot alleged significant administrative lapses, claiming that out of an allocation exceeding ₹41,414 crore for the mission, more than ₹29,145 crore remained unspent. He further cited audit findings regarding irregular payments, procedural negligence, and weak quality checks within the rural drinking water initiative.

The High Court emphasized that the state, being a desert region, should prioritize the mission to ensure drinking water reaches all citizens on a ‘war footing’ to meet the essential human requirement of quenching thirst.