SRINAGAR: The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti has asked the Jammu and Kashmir Government to take necessary action on the issue of pending payments to contractors executing works under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), following an intervention by Rajya Sabha MP Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan, who raised the matter with the Centre.
The Ministry has also disclosed that Jammu and Kashmir drew only ₹6,380.42 crore of the ₹18,514.24 crore allocated under the Jal Jeevan Mission during its original implementation period. It further said that release of fresh central funds under the extended JJM 2.0 would be subject to the signing of a mandatory Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Centre and the J&K Government.
According to an official communication issued by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Ministry received a representation from MP Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan highlighting the hardships faced by contractors due to non-release of payments for works executed under the Jal Jeevan Mission in Jammu and Kashmir.
Acting on the representation, the Ministry, in a letter dated March 18, 2026, addressed to the Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department, J&K, directed the UT Administration to take necessary action and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR).
“I am directed to request to take necessary action in the matter and an action taken report may also be kindly sent to this Department,” the communication signed by Under Secretary Avinash Kumar Sinha states.
In his reply to the Rajya Sabha MP, Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil acknowledged the issue of pending contractor payments and informed that the matter had been taken up with the J&K Administration for appropriate action.
The Minister said that out of 19.25 lakh rural households in Jammu and Kashmir, 15.64 lakh households (81.24%) have been provided Functional Household Tap Connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
He further stated that although ₹18,514.24 crore had been allocated to Jammu and Kashmir under the mission, the UT had drawn only ₹6,380.42 crore, nearly 34 per cent of the sanctioned amount.
The Minister also informed that the Union Cabinet has approved the extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission till December 2028 under the restructured JJM 2.0. However, he clarified that Jammu and Kashmir has not yet signed the mandatory MoU with the Centre, a prerequisite for release of further central assistance.
“In the case of Jammu and Kashmir, the MoU is yet to be signed. The UT will become eligible to draw further funds only upon signing of the MoU and fulfilment of the prescribed conditions under the extant guidelines of JJM 2.0,” the Minister said.
The issue of delayed payments has been a major concern for contractors engaged in rural drinking water projects across Jammu and Kashmir, with many alleging that pending dues have hampered execution of works and caused financial hardship.
