In a sharp indictment of the state government, Inner Manipur MP Dr. Akoijam Bimol on Monday accused authorities of gross misuse of funds under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), alleging large-scale discrepancies that point to a potential multi-crore scam in the implementation of the central flagship drinking water scheme in Manipur.
Addressing media persons at his residence at Keishamthong Top Leirak, Imphal West, after inaugurating a series of Community Water Plants (RO) installed at Khwairamband Ima Keithel under the MP Local Area Development Fund (MPLAD), Dr. Bimol said the government’s claims about JJM achievements are “nowhere near the truth.”
Citing official data obtained from the Jal Jeevan Mantralaya during the Parliament session, Dr. Bimol revealed that the Centre had reported connecting over 3.59 lakh rural households in Manipur with functional tap water supply between August 2019 and July 2025. For this, a total of Rs.1,222 crore had been utilized — comprising Rs. 1,078.82 crore as Central share and Rs.124.3 crore as State share.
However, the MP’s ground inspection painted a starkly different picture. “I have personally visited more than 11 villages in the past few weeks — including Nachou, Phubala, Kiyamgei, and Patsoi — and found that almost none of the households have received the promised tap water connections,” he said.
According to Dr. Bimol, government records falsely list numerous households as beneficiaries. “In some cases, three members of the same family appear separately on the official JJM portal as having received tap connections, even though no connection exists on the ground. In other areas, village pradhans and members of the Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC) are not even aware that such connections were supposedly provided in their villages,” he disclosed.
Calling the manipulation of official data a “betrayal of the people,” Dr. Bimol asserted that the alleged misuse of funds represents not just administrative failure but a serious violation of citizens’ rights. “Access to safe drinking water is a fundamental right guaranteed under the Right to Life enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution. Depriving citizens of this right despite massive fund allocation is a crime against the people,” he declared.
The MP further informed that he has already filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the High Court of Manipur, seeking judicial intervention to ensure at least two hours of drinking water supply per day to the public.
“I have done my part by raising the issue in Parliament and moving the court. But this fight cannot be waged by one person or one MP alone. It is now up to the people to stand up and demand accountability,” he said, urging citizens to scrutinize the official JJM beneficiary data available on government portals.
The revelations by Dr. Bimol raise serious questions about the state government’s implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, one of the Centre’s most ambitious rural welfare schemes. If proven true, the alleged irregularities could point to a systemic diversion of public funds running into hundreds of crores, while lakhs of rural households continue to struggle without access to safe drinking water.
Dr. Bimol’s exposé could trigger fresh demands for an independent investigation by central agencies to unearth the truth behind what increasingly appears to be a deep-rooted scam under the guise of a welfare mission.
Earlier , Dr. Bimol inaugurated COMMUNITY WATER PLANTS (RO) at Khwairamband Ima Keithel. Two each water plants installed under his MPLAD were installed in the three Ima Keithel and another at temporary market shed. He said that 21 such machines have been installed at 17 market places and major temples premises in Imphal.