Barmer/Jaipur: Serious questions are being raised over the functioning of Rajasthan’s Public Health Engineering Department Rajasthan after villagers in Gadan Village alleged that a government-funded drinking water pipeline project worth more than ₹8 lakh exists only on paper while residents continue to struggle for basic water supply.
According to complaints raised by villagers and local reports, the drinking water pipeline scheme was officially shown as completed under government records during 2022–23, but regular water supply has still not reached households in the area.
The controversy has triggered allegations of poor construction quality, technical failures, administrative negligence, and possible misuse of public funds under rural drinking water infrastructure schemes.
₹8-Lakh Pipeline Project “Completed” on Records, But No Water Reaches Villagers
Government records and entries available on the “Meri Panchayat” portal reportedly show that approximately ₹8.14 lakh was spent on construction of a public drinking water pipeline network in Gadan Gram Panchayat area. Officials also marked the project as completed.
However, villagers claim that despite the expenditure, water supply has either never started properly or remains irregular and ineffective.
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Residents allege that women are still forced to travel long distances to fetch water, while many families are compelled to purchase expensive private tanker water during extreme summer conditions.
Technical Faults and Incomplete Connections Alleged
Villagers have alleged multiple deficiencies in the project execution, including:
- Faulty pipeline construction
- Incomplete household connections
- Lack of adequate water pressure
- Absence of booster arrangements
- Poor quality implementation work
According to local residents, these issues have prevented water from reaching the far-end areas of the village even after the project was declared complete.
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Old Well Defunct for Nearly 20 Years
The crisis in the village has reportedly worsened due to failure of traditional water sources as well.
Residents said a century-old village well has remained non-functional for nearly two decades. A Ground Level Reservoir (GLR) constructed near the site in 2012 allegedly functioned only briefly before becoming ineffective.
Villagers further claimed that a nearby handpump is also defunct, leaving residents heavily dependent on tanker supply and distant water sources.
Tankers Arriving From Nearby Villages
Due to the ongoing water shortage, drinking water tankers are reportedly being arranged from nearby villages including:
- Undkha
- Ranigaon
Residents claim that each tanker costs around ₹1,500, placing additional financial burden on already distressed rural families.
The problem is not limited to domestic consumption. Villagers say more than 900 livestock animals in the area are also facing acute water shortage amid soaring temperatures touching nearly 48 degrees Celsius.
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Multiple Complaints Filed, Villagers Allege No Action
According to residents, repeated complaints have been submitted through:
- Rajasthan Sampark portal
- 181 grievance helpline
- RTI applications
- Complaints to PHED officials
- District Collector’s office
Despite repeated representations, villagers allege that no concrete action has been taken at the ground level.
Growing Questions Over Rural Water Infrastructure
The controversy has intensified scrutiny over implementation and monitoring of rural drinking water schemes in Rajasthan, particularly in water-scarce districts like Barmer.
Barmer has historically remained one of Rajasthan’s most water-stressed districts, with several remote villages facing recurring drinking water shortages and damaged pipeline infrastructure.
The issue also comes amid wider controversies linked to Rajasthan’s Jal Jeevan Mission implementation and allegations of procurement and infrastructure irregularities in PHED projects.
Villagers Demand Accountability
Residents are now demanding a detailed technical audit of the project and accountability for officials responsible for approving and certifying the scheme as complete despite the absence of functional water supply.
Several key questions are being raised:
- How was the project marked “completed” without ensuring water delivery?
- Were quality inspections conducted before payment approvals?
- Did technical defects go unnoticed or were they ignored?
- Who is responsible for public money spent on a non-functional scheme?
As temperatures continue to rise across western Rajasthan, the crisis in Gadan village has become a stark reminder of the gap between official claims and ground realities in rural drinking water infrastructure.