Congress govt under Baghel falsified Jal Jeevan data for 15 lakh households, Chhattisgarh Deputy CM says
Raipur, July 16, 2025 — A political uproar erupted in the Chhattisgarh Assembly as Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao accused the previous Congress government of manipulating water connection data under the Jal Jeevan Mission. He claimed that under former CM Bhupesh Baghel, 15 lakh tap connections were falsely reported.
Sao said the official records showed 36 lakh households had functional taps by December 2023. However, a field audit in June 2024 found that only 21 lakh homes actually received water. The rest had taps, but no water.
“Taps were installed, but many never worked. Villagers were misled with false data,” said Sao.
BJP Alleges Data Fraud, Touts Own Progress
Sao blamed the Congress administration for misleading the public and the central government. He said the BJP-led government verified every connection and exposed the data gap. According to him, since taking office in December 2023, the BJP government added 10 lakh verified, working connections.
He also highlighted that over 12,000 borewells were drilled and 1,500 water tanks were constructed. These, he said, are part of the plan to bring clean tap water to every rural household by 2026.
“We are not faking it. We are delivering real, working solutions,” Sao added.
Congress Fights Back, Calls It a Smokescreen
Congress leaders rejected the allegations. Former CM Bhupesh Baghel said the BJP is misleading the public to hide its own failures.
“They want to blame us instead of admitting that their pace is slow and ineffective,” said Baghel.
Congress claimed they had ensured water supply to 21 lakh households during their tenure. They also said that the BJP has added just 10 lakh connections in the last 19 months. According to them, the drop in funding and the delay in project execution under BJP rule are the real concerns.
Opposition MLAs demanded proof for the claims. When they didn’t receive clear answers, they staged a walkout from the Assembly.
Assembly Heated Over Claims
The Assembly session turned chaotic during the debate. Sao stood firm on his accusations and said an internal probe was underway. He added that if corruption is proven, legal action would follow.
Speaker Dr. Raman Singh had to call the House to order several times. The water connection issue is expected to dominate discussions throughout the session.
Jal Jeevan Mission and Why It Matters
Launched in 2019, the Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide clean tap water to every rural home in India. State governments are required to report their progress on a national dashboard.
Chhattisgarh had shown impressive progress on paper by the end of 2023. However, the June 2024 audit revealed that many reported connections were non-functional. This sparked questions about the previous administration’s data practices.
Experts Demand Independent Verification
Water policy experts urged the government to conduct an independent audit. They said real-time verification would improve transparency and public trust.
“If the data was manipulated, this is a serious governance failure,” said Dr. M. Prakash, a rural development analyst.
He added that inflated numbers lead to poor planning and leave many without basic water access.
Political Fallout Ahead of Local Elections
The issue could have political consequences as the 2026 Panchayat elections approach. Both parties have locked horns over who failed rural residents.
While BJP claims to be fixing the mess left behind, Congress says the current government is inefficient and slow. Meanwhile, millions of villagers still wait for reliable water supply.
