Vadodara: Villagers in Gujarat are still waiting for promised tap water under the Nal Se Jal scheme, after a Rs 123 crore scam involving 620 villages came to light in 2023.Following an internal probe, the Water Supply and Management Organisation (WASMO) of the state govt filed a case in June 2024. Investigations revealed that contractors, with the connivance of WASMO officials, carried out substandard work, left projects incomplete, and manipulated documents to falsely indicate that the work had been completed according to specifications.Mahisagar unit manager Girish Agola said that while water supply had started in some villages, 185 villages remained without any water, and only parts of 200 other villages received water due to incomplete work. Residents said that even in these villages, supplies were limited to small areas, leaving the majority of households without water.“Water is being supplied only to the Patel Falia, which is a small portion of our village. Most homes do not get any water under the scheme,” said Mayur Malik of Kadibel village in Mahisagar district. Similarly, Raman Dabhi from Bhuvabar village said that a sump built under the scheme stands just 300 meters from his home, yet water never reached his area. Dabhi, who helped expose the scam, said the situation was similar in surrounding villages. WASMO has prepared detailed estimates to complete the pending work, pegged at Rs 46 crore, and has already recovered around Rs 20 crore from the contractors involved. Agola said the pending work will be executed in phases to ensure water supply reaches all affected households.The CID (crime) of the state police is investigating the scam. So far, 24 people have been arrested, and 10 accused have been chargesheeted in two separate cases. Officials indicated that more arrests may follow as documents related to additional works are still under scrutiny.
