Marcuise N Marak, Meghalaya’s Public Health Engineering Minister, has revealed that payments worth over ₹700 crore for the state’s Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) projects are still pending, causing delays in ongoing water supply works. “In terms of payment, we are yet to pay almost ₹700 crore pending payment,” he said, stressing that the delay is not due to the state government but procedural hurdles at the central level.
“It is not because of the state government it is because of the government of India as there are some procedures. Government of India needs to take a decision because target was set for March 31, 2024 and after that government of India has not taken any decision,” Marak added, announcing that the Centre has extended the JJM deadline to 2028.
The minister assured that once auditing under the Finance Ministry’s mandate is completed, the earmarked funds will be released, enabling payments to contractors. “Therefore, now the government of India has to release the money which they have already earmarked for the Jal Shakti Ministry and as per finance ministry’s mandate, the kind of audit that is being conducted with the Jal Shakti Ministry once the auditing is completed, the money will be released to the state and once the money is released the payment will start,” he said.
Acknowledging the impact on contractors, Marak said while some continue work, others have halted projects due to financial constraints. He reaffirmed that the state government is actively coordinating with the Centre to resolve the issue.
