UP Government Takes Strict Action Against 26 Engineers Over Jal Jeevan Mission Implementation
The Uttar Pradesh government has initiated a significant crackdown on alleged negligence in the execution of the Jal Jeevan Mission, a flagship scheme aimed at providing tap water to every rural household. In a decisive move, action has been taken against 26 engineers, with 12 of them suspended following complaints about poor work quality and slow progress.
Details of the Suspensions and Disciplinary Measures
According to an official statement released on Wednesday, Additional Chief Secretary (Rural Water Supply) Anurag Srivastava ordered the suspension of 12 engineers from various districts. The suspended engineers include:
- Avinash Gupta from Lakhimpur Kheri
- Soumitra Srivastava from Jaunpur
- Mohd Qasim Hashmi from Ghazipur
- Amit Rajput from Chandauli
- Sitaram Yadav from Chandauli
- Akbar Hasan from Bijnor
- Anurag Goyal from Auraiya
- Kuldeep Kumar Singh from Hathras
- Rajendra Kumar Yadav from Azamgarh
- Roop Chandra from Bareilly
- Avneesh Pratap Singh from Barabanki
- Dharm Prakash Maheshwari from Kushinagar
In addition to the suspensions, the government has ordered departmental inquiries against four engineers and issued show-cause notices to three others for their slow progress in project execution. Furthermore, seven engineers have been transferred following complaints related to various schemes under the mission.
Government's Stance on Mission Implementation
Anurag Srivastava emphasized that the government is working in mission mode to ensure tap water supply reaches every rural household, and any negligence in this critical initiative will not be tolerated. He issued a stern warning, stating that strict action, including potential dismissal, could be taken if officials fail to improve their performance and meet the scheme's objectives.
This crackdown is described as one of the biggest actions against personnel of the state water corporation in recent times, highlighting the administration's commitment to accountability and efficient service delivery.
Background and Political Context
The action comes against the backdrop of a recent controversy that brought the Jal Jeevan Mission into the spotlight. On January 30, Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh's convoy was stopped by BJP MLA Brijbhushan Rajput in Charkhari, Mahoba. The MLA raised complaints about roads not being repaired after pipeline work under the scheme, leading to a heated exchange between the two.
This incident involving the ruling party MLA and the minister garnered significant attention, with the BJP also taking cognizance of the matter. It underscored public dissatisfaction with the implementation of the mission and may have contributed to the government's decision to take stringent measures against negligent officials.
The Jal Jeevan Mission, a central government scheme, aims to provide functional household tap connections to all rural households by 2024. The Uttar Pradesh government's recent actions signal a renewed focus on ensuring the mission's success through strict oversight and disciplinary measures against those failing to meet expectations.
