Years after its inception, the Delina Water Supply Scheme under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) continues to await completion, with a shortage of funds holding up the remaining works and leaving thousands of residents without a reliable supply of potable water.
The scheme was conceived to address the area’s longstanding drinking water crisis. However, despite significant expenditure on its construction, the project remains non-functional.
According to official records, around Rs 4 crore has already been spent on the project, while an additional Rs 5 crore is required to complete the remaining works.
While the civil works were completed several years ago, the crucial mechanical works remain pending due to a paucity of funds, officials said.
“Additional funds are needed to complete the balance works, and the pending components will be taken up once the requisite funds are released,” a Jal Shakti Department official said.
The prolonged delay has frustrated residents, who say they continue to face difficulties in accessing safe and adequate drinking water despite the JJM project being intended to address these concerns precisely.
Residents also raised concerns over the quality of the water currently being supplied in parts of the area, alleging that it is not adequately filtered.
Locals further claimed that cases of typhoid and other water-borne illnesses had been reported in the area. The claims could not be independently verified.
“We have been suffering because of the drinking water problem for decades. The government had given us hope through this scheme, but its delay has only added to our difficulties,” said Muhammad Ashraf, a resident of Delina Ghat.
Residents urged the authorities to release the required funds at the earliest and complete the pending mechanical works so that the scheme can be made operational.
They said access to safe drinking water was a basic necessity and called for immediate intervention by the concerned authorities to resolve the issue.
