Major irregularity linked with implementation of the Centre’s Jal Jeevan Mission in Mauganj district of Madhya Pradesh has come to light. BJP Kisan Morcha’s Rewa district vice-president and contractor Shivendra Kumar Tiwari and three former Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department officials have been lodged under new version of criminal cognizable offence under the Economic Offences Wing (EOW).
In the case, permission had been given to conduct construction activities in the development block of Naigarhi in the fiscal year 2021-22 for an approximate fee of Rs 3.85 crore. The Jal Jeevan Mission projects extended to the villages: Khatkhari, Karah (Khairagarh), Shivrajpur and Judmania-Raghunath.
Water is now said to have seeped out of the leaked-over water tank in Khatkhari after it burst open during a trial in March 2026. A collapse of this 30-foot-tall tank during filling with water for the first test was reported. Fortunately, a JCB operator on the scene narrowly avoided it.
The investigation details in the case also revealed certain discrepancies in other project elements/activities. In Karah village, attempts were made to check how many taps/fittings had been completed and paid for, and the police reportedly recorded 740 household taps, whereas the investigators found no taps at the households. At the site, only one motor pump was also reported; while five motor pumps were sanctioned as part of the project.
Investigators also discovered length of pipelines going to the edge of a village rather than into households. It is said that the construction of a sump and overhead tanks at Shivrajpur and Judmania were not complete.
Jewellery dealer JP Dwivedi, former assistant engineer Sanjay Pandey, former junior engineer APTiwari and contractor Shivendra Kumar Tiwari have been named as accused by the EOW. An investigation is ongoing into how the payments have been allowed to be paid despite the aforementioned lack of quality works.