The Jal Jeevan Mission in Assam has come under serious criticism after allegations that the scheme has failed to deliver its basic promise of household tap-water connections. The issue took centre stage in the Lok Sabha on Thursday when Jorhat MP and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Gaurav Gogoi, raised strong concerns about the state of the project.
Speaking during the Winter Session, Gogoi said the scheme, which was expected to improve water supply in rural and urban areas, has instead created hardship for thousands of families. He said that the situation has become “a mockery” because the work under the mission has not been completed properly and many families continue to suffer due to irregular or non-functional water supply lines.
Gogoi also highlighted that the people who worked on the project are now facing severe financial distress. Contractors and labourers have reportedly not been paid their dues for a long time. According to Gogoi, unpaid bills under the mission have reached nearly ₹3,500 crore. Many young contractors who had taken loans to carry out the work are now struggling to repay those loans and are facing losses. 
He added that the frustration among contractors has pushed them to launch protests demanding immediate clearance of their pending payments. Gogoi claimed that while a few contractors have received partial payments, the state government has followed a policy of favouritism. “Only those who have links with BJP ministers and MLAs have managed to get a portion of their bills cleared,” he said, calling it a clear example of bias within the so-called double-engine government.
Calling for urgent intervention, Gogoi urged both the Central and Assam governments to start meaningful talks with Jal Mitras, contractors, and all other groups involved. He said that without proper dialogue and immediate corrective steps, the mission will continue to fail the people it was meant to serve.
