3 days ago
CAG Finds Major Water Shortfalls in Tamil Nadu Mission
The Jal Jeevan Mission aims to give rural families piped drinking water.
A government audit examined how the program was working in parts of Tamil Nadu.
It found that many families did not receive enough water each day.
The audit also found that most surveyed taps were installed outside homes instead of inside them.
Officials said some taps were placed outside because homes lacked space or families requested it.
The auditors said this could make the taps easier to damage or steal.
In some places, water came only once every four to seven days.
Some tanks and pipes were built, but they could not be used because connected work was unfinished.
The audit asked the government to fix these problems and provide safe, reliable water.
A CAG audit found 50 per cent of targeted rural households in selected Tamil Nadu districts did not receive the mandated 55 litres per capita daily.
Although Tamil Nadu reported 84 per cent rural Functional Household Tap Connection coverage, 96 per cent of surveyed taps were installed outside homes.
In Coimbatore, only 8.67 per cent of habitations received the required water quantity despite reported 100 per cent tap coverage; Nagapattinam recorded none.
Beneficiaries reported irregular supplies, sometimes once every four to seven days, along with concerns about water quality.
Completed village infrastructure remained largely unused because retrofitting of the main water supply scheme was still underway as of May 2025.
- Who
- The Comptroller and Auditor General of India audited Tamil Nadu’s implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission; rural households and state agencies were affected.
- What
- The audit reported major shortfalls in water supply, improper tap placement, and delays connecting completed village infrastructure to main water systems.
- Where
- Selected districts of Tamil Nadu, including Coimbatore, Nagapattinam, and Ramanathapuram’s Thiruvadanai Block.
- When
- The report was tabled on Tuesday, September 8; the audit noted that key retrofitting work remained under progress as of May 2025.
- Why
- The reported deficiencies were attributed to inadequate water delivery, outside installation of taps, and poor coordination between implementing departments.
Audit Findings
Government Explanation
Tap placement
Audit Findings
The CAG said installing 96 per cent of surveyed connections in open spaces and streets violated Jal Jeevan Mission guidelines and exposed assets to damage, theft, and poor maintenance.
Government Explanation
The government cited lack of space and beneficiary requests as reasons for installing taps outside homes.
Mission performance
Audit Findings
The CAG found a gap between reported FHTC coverage and actual service, with half of targeted households in selected districts not receiving the required water quantity.
Government Explanation
Tamil Nadu’s reported figures showed nearly 84 per cent rural FHTC coverage, including 100 per cent reported coverage in Coimbatore.
Project coordination
Audit Findings
The audit said poor synchronization between the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board and rural development departments left completed infrastructure unused and villages without water.
Government Explanation
The reported project sequence involved completing in-village works before the main scheme’s retrofitting, which was later taken up under the 2022-23 plan and remained in progress as of May 2025.
Key facts
- Mandated supply
- 55 litres per capita per day
- Reported rural coverage
- Tamil Nadu reported FHTCs for nearly 84 per cent of rural households.
- Surveyed connections
- 2,69,645 FHTCs were surveyed; 2,59,613 were installed in open spaces or streets.
- Coimbatore finding
- Only 8.67 per cent of habitations received 55 litres per capita per day despite reported 100 per cent FHTC coverage.
- Nagapattinam finding
- None of the surveyed habitations received the prescribed water quantity.
- Delayed infrastructure
- 165 in-village works costing an estimated Rs 32.93 crore were completed by February 2023, while related retrofitting costing Rs 574.42 crore remained under progress as of May 2025.
- Thiruvadanai verification
- Seven of 12 constructed sumps were not receiving water, and water was not being pumped to three overhead tanks.
Sources
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