The central government’s Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide at least 50 liters of clean water per day to every rural household, was supposed to have been completed by now. However, things are not going as planned in a few states, including Kerala.

The contractors have stopped the work and left the site as their dues piled up. The state government owes 700 contractors around Rs 4,500 crore for taking over the works under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Since the government's financial misery is an openly kept secret, there is no chance the works of Jal Jeevan resuming anytime soon in the state.

The vast majority of contractors in the state are not very financially well off. They lack the means to splash money out of their pockets to complete work. Many people survive in this profession by taking out bank loans, and when that's not enough, they borrow at exorbitant interest rates from blade mafia and end up mortgaging their homes when all doors remain closed.

The bill of dues will have to pass certain hurdles in government offices before reaching the contractors. Even a low-grade employee inside government offices will flex his/her muscles to hinder the payment. Even if every employee gives assent, the bills can remain stalled if the government’s economic condition continues to be on a downward slope. Many of the contractors who took on the Jal Jeevan Mission work are now facing foreclosure by banks and other entities. Since March is also the month of payment of dues, there will be maximum pressure from all sides. Contractors have already staged a protest demanding the payment of bills for work done.

Water supply works are at a standstill due to unpaid dues. Tens of thousands of rural families are waiting for water connection through this project. The mission will only be completed if the pending works get done. Pipe laying under the Jal Jeevan Mission has been completed in over 19 lakh rural homes in the state. The target was to provide clean water to 54.5 lakh houses by the end of this year. However, the target has been achieved by only 35 percent.

The central government is bearing 45 percent of the cost of the project. The state is to bear 30 percent and local bodies 15 percent. The state has initially spent Rs 1,500 crore. The central government then gave their share. After this, the state stopped providing money, considering their muddled financial straits. As a result, the rural water supply project came to a complete standstill. The arrears to contractors have increased to Rs 4,500 crore. There are tens of thousands of families in the state who do not have access to clean drinking water.

The government should take some time to think about those people who will be forced to rely on contaminated water for their daily necessities. At least, a definite plan should be expedited to make Jal Jeevan a reality in Kerala.