Amid the Gujarat government’s claims of providing clean drinking water to over 91 lakh households under the Nal Se Jal scheme, allegations of large-scale corruption have prompted central agencies to join the ongoing state CID-Crime investigation, according to reports.
The alleged scam, first detected in Mahisagar district, has reportedly spread to several others, including Kheda, Banaskantha, Mehsana, Botad, Gir Somnath, and Junagadh. Official records show that 16 formal complaints of irregularities under the Jal Jeevan Mission have been registered so far.
Despite an expenditure of ₹96 crore, several villages continue to lack functional water supply — with missing pipes, disconnected lines, and taps installed without any water flow.
Sources suggest the scam involves contractors, village sarpanches, and talatis, allegedly protected by political links. A third-party inspection ordered by the Centre revealed that many projects marked as ‘completed’ were non-functional, and payments were made for work that was incomplete or never done.
Central intervention is now expected to accelerate the probe, which state agencies were earlier accused of handling sluggishly.