Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Feb 6: Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha under Rule 377 during the Winter Session on December 1, 2025, Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Baran Mahato highlighted the prolonged delay in the Bagbera–Govindpur Rural Water Supply Scheme, which has left residents of Bagbera’s rural areas struggling for drinking water.
While the Govindpur component of the project, launched between 2014 and 2019 with Centre–State support, has been completed, the Bagbera segment remains unfinished.
Following the intervention, the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti sought details from the Jharkhand government.
In its response, the state’s Drinking Water and Sanitation Department informed that the project was initially sanctioned under the Neer Nirmal Project at a cost of Rs 206.63 crore, later revised to Rs 237.21 crore.
The executing agency completed the Govindpur work and about 75% of the Bagbera project before its contract was terminated in 2019, after which the Neer Nirmal Project was closed in March 2020.
The remaining work was brought under the Jal Jeevan Mission in 2021 with an approved cost of Rs 107.19 crore.
The state has reported that about 60 % of the balance work has been completed, but progress has been hampered due to non-availability of central and state funds in the 2025–26 financial year.
Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Railways V. Somanna, in a letter to Mahato, clarified that drinking water is a state subject and implementation of approved schemes rests with the state government.
He added that while the Centre provides financial, policy and technical support under the Jal Jeevan Mission, any additional expenditure must be met by the state.
The minister also noted that the mission has been extended till 2028 and assured that all possible assistance would be provided as per its guidelines for successful implementation.
