Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Demands Probe into Alleged Irregularities in GTA Jal Jeevan Mission Projects in Darjeeling

PTI, September 22, 2026, Siliguri: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on Tuesday wrote to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, seeking a thorough probe into suspected financial, technical and administrative irregularities in about 280 Jal Jeevan Mission projects undertaken by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

Launched in August 2019, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is a flagship central government scheme aimed at providing safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections in rural areas.

The complaint letter, signed by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung, secretary Roshan Giri and Darjeeling MLA Nomen Rai, referred to the findings of an independent six-member survey team that had recently visited some project sites and raised several concerns, indicating widespread corruption.

It claimed that there was no regular water supply through household taps in the villages inspected and that several constructed reservoirs were lying without water.

The survey team, the letter added, met beneficiaries who expressed dissatisfaction with the quality and execution of the works.

“Most seriously, the survey team has raised concerns that the identification and verification of a sustainable/perennial source of drinking water does not appear to have been properly undertaken at the planning and survey stage, despite source sustainability being a fundamental component of JJM planning,” the letter said.

The complaint mentioned projects at Chotta Pubung, Dhotria, Goke and Relling, with work-order values of Rs 19.34 crore, Rs 60.51 crore, Rs 9.12 crore and Rs 21.30 crore respectively.

“In view of the seriousness of the matter, we respectfully request your good office to order a comprehensive and independent investigation/audit of the Jal Jeevan Mission projects undertaken by the GTA, preferably by an agency or technical team independent of the GTA authorities responsible for their implementation,” the letter said.

The above circumstances raise fundamental questions regarding the manner in which the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration has planned, tendered, executed, supervised and certified these projects, the complainants stated.

The party sought verification of all 280 projects against sanctioned estimates, DPRs and tender documents, besides physical verification of water sources, reservoirs, pipelines, distribution tanks and household tap connections.

It also demanded examination of measurements, bills, completion certificates and payments released to contractors, besides independent quality testing of materials and civic works.

The GJM further urged the government to fix responsibility wherever irregularities or negligence are established and recover public money where financial loss to the government is found.

It also requested that no further payments or final settlements be released for questionable projects until their physical and financial status is independently verified.

“We further request that the investigation includes random physical verification of beneficiaries and household tap connections, rather than relying solely upon departmental records and completion reports,” the letter added.