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Kharge attacks Gujarat government over Jal Jeevan water report
A government audit examined Gujarat’s drinking-water program.
It found that nearly 89% of tested samples in some villages were not safe to drink.
The audit also found delays, weak testing and questionable spending.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge used the findings to criticize the BJP government.
He said claims that every household had a tap connection were not accurate.
Kharge alleged that 14 lakh households were still waiting for water.
He also mentioned a reported 54 deaths from cancer in Dholka that he linked to polluted water.
The audit covered the years from 2019-20 to 2023-24.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized Gujarat’s BJP government after a CAG report flagged water contamination and implementation problems.
The CAG report said nearly 89% of tested water samples in select villages were unfit for consumption; Kharge cited a 90% figure.
The audit covered the Jal Jeevan Mission’s implementation in Gujarat from 2019-20 to 2023-24.
The report identified project delays, gaps in water-quality testing, incorrect calculations and inadmissible spending that led to excess contractor payments.
Kharge alleged that 14 lakh households still await water despite claims of 100% tap connections, and cited 54 alleged cancer deaths in Dholka linked to contaminated water.
- Who
- Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the Gujarat BJP government and the Comptroller and Auditor General are central to the report and dispute.
- What
- A CAG audit flagged unsafe water samples, delays, financial irregularities and gaps in water-quality testing under Gujarat’s Jal Jeevan Mission.
- Where
- Gujarat, including select villages and areas such as Dholka, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Kutch and Saurashtra.
- When
- The report was tabled on Friday; Kharge made his criticism on Saturday. The audit covered 2019-20 through 2023-24.
- Why
- The audit findings prompted Kharge to challenge claims about complete tap-water coverage and criticize the BJP’s 28-year rule in Gujarat.
Key facts
- Audit period
- 2019-20 to 2023-24
- Water-quality finding
- Nearly 89% of samples tested in select villages were unfit for consumption, according to the CAG report.
- Kharge’s claim
- Kharge said 90% of water samples in Gujarat were unfit for drinking.
- Households awaiting water
- Kharge alleged that 14 lakh households still lack water despite claims of 100% tap connections in 2022.
- Audit concerns
- Project delays, gaps in water-quality testing, incorrect calculations and inadmissible spending.
- Reported Dholka deaths
- Kharge cited news of 54 cancer deaths in Dholka that he linked to contaminated water.
- Schemes mentioned
- Sujalam-Sufalam and the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Quotes
Mallikarjun Kharge
Congress president and critic of the Gujarat BJP government
“Gujarat's people were shown dreams of a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, but 28 years of BJP rule have only peddled false propaganda, flaunted fake colorful pictures and thrown dust in the people's eyes! Under BJP rule — there is no 'Sujalam', meaning pure water, nor 'Sufalam', meaning bountiful with fruits and fertile crops!!”
telegraphindia.com
“When Modi ji was CM, the 'Sujalam-Sufalam' scheme was loudly trumpeted in 2004. Even today, Gujarat's people are still yearning for a drop of water.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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