Pakhiriguri, Bongaigaon: Hopes for potable water in Pakhiriguri village have soured into a bitter taste of abandonment, as the much-touted Jal Jeevan Mission project in this Assam district lies incomplete and defunct, months after its initiation. Villagers, who once envisioned a steady supply of clean drinking water, are now grappling with the harsh reality of a half-finished scheme, marred by allegations of negligence and contractor desertion.
Reports from the ground paint a grim picture: the flagship mission, designed to bring piped water to every household, has ground to a halt midway. Astonishingly, a mere 20 per cent of the project work has reportedly been completed, with no progress visible for several months. The absence of any information board or signage at the site has further fuelled suspicions, prompting residents to question the transparency and accountability of the implementing authorities.
The scenes unfolding in Pakhiriguri are disheartening. Construction materials lie scattered and unused, testament to a project left in limbo. Partially built infrastructure is slowly being reclaimed by wild vegetation, serving as a stark reminder of the villagers’ dashed aspirations.
Incensed residents have directly accused the contractor of abandoning the work mid-course, while simultaneously raising serious questions about the oversight and dedication of the agencies responsible for the mission’s execution. With their patience wearing thin, the distressed villagers have issued an urgent plea to Public Health Engineering Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, demanding his immediate intervention and urging the concerned department to resume and complete the project without further procrastination.
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