Jaipur — In a major development that could trigger a severe drinking water crisis across Rajasthan, contractors working with the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) have announced an indefinite boycott of all water supply works starting April 25, 2026.
The PHED Contractors Association has warned that after three years of continuing operations by spending money from their own pockets, they can no longer sustain the services without payments. The contractors claim they have been forced to bear the cost of Operation & Maintenance (O&M) even after their contracts ended.According to the association, a phased agitation will begin immediately:
- On April 22: Water supply will be halted for 2 hours statewide.
- On April 23: Water supply will be stopped for 3 hours.
- On April 24: Water supply will be suspended for 4 hours.
- From April 25 onwards: Complete and indefinite shutdown of all PHED water supply works.
Five Major Demands of the Contractors
The contractors have put forward five key demands that the department has allegedly failed to address despite repeated representations:
- Immediate release of final bills for completed works.
- Approval of deviations (extra works carried out).
- Issuance of Completion Certificates.
- Release from forced Operation & Maintenance (O&M) obligations after contract expiry.
- Refund of security/guarantee deposits.
Contractors allege that despite completing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) works on time, the department has shown no positive action. Many have been running water supply schemes for the last 2–3 years using their own funds for diesel, labour, and maintenance, pushing them into severe financial distress.
A contractor associated with the movement stated: “We did not let the public go thirsty, but does the department not care about us and our families? How long can we keep paying for diesel and labour from our homes without final bills, without security refund, and without any formal payments? Now, no more!”
The association has accused the PHED and the state government of sleeping on their genuine demands, forcing them to take this extreme step.
Potential Impact
The indefinite strike is likely to disrupt drinking water supply to lakhs of households across Rajasthan. The move comes as a major embarrassment for the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide tap water to every rural household.
No immediate reaction or assurance from the PHED or the Rajasthan government was available at the time of reporting.
This situation has been building for months, with contractors earlier staging protests and dharnas at the Water Bhawan in Jaipur over pending payments reportedly running into thousands of crores.