Pipes Run Dry, Pockets Overflow: Inside the Jal Jeevan Scam Under Baruah’s Watch

Assam’s Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), responsible for delivering clean drinking water to the state’s residents, is now at the centre of a storm over alleged large-scale corruption, cronyism, and financial irregularities under the stewardship of Assam cabinet minister Jayanta Mallabaruah.

Despite publicly claiming to uphold clean governance since joining the BJP, Mallabaruah is now accused of turning the PHED into what sources describe as a “commission syndicate,” undermining the very schemes meant to benefit rural populations, particularly the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), a flagship programme aimed at providing tap water to every household.

Allegations of Preferential Payments

According to highly placed departmental sources, the state government currently owes around ₹2,500 crore in pending dues to contractors who worked on Jal Jeevan Mission projects across Assam. However, while most contractors have received only partial payments — some as low as 10 percent — a select few, allegedly close to the minister, have received full payments.

One such beneficiary is Sudhir Malla Buzarbaruah, a relative of the minister, who reportedly received the full ₹87 lakh due for a project under the PHED's Barpeta division. Department insiders claim the payment was facilitated directly by ministerial intervention, with verbal instructions allegedly issued by Baruah to executive engineers for immediate release of funds.

Similar full payments were allegedly made to Buzarbaruah in other divisions as well, bypassing the prevailing financial constraints that have affected the broader pool of contractors.

A Close-Knit Network of Favouritism?

The name of contractor Gajen Kalita, operating through a firm called DKS Associates, also figures prominently in the allegations. Kalita, known to be close to the minister, has reportedly secured large contracts and managed to extract bills worth over ₹100 crore from PHED’s Tangla and Jorhat divisions in recent months. Insiders allege the payments were made in return for a 3% commission, raising serious questions about the transparency of the billing process.

Sources also allege that after becoming the Minister of Public Health Engineering, Jayanta Mallabaruah awarded contracts worth several crores under the Jal Jeevan Mission. In exchange for hefty commissions, a majority of these contracts during his tenure were handed over to a group of outside, non-Assamese contractors. However, even these non-Assamese contractors, who secured tenders by paying commissions, are now frustrated due to the minister's indifferent attitude in clearing their bills.

Central Funding Dried Up Amidst Implementation Concerns

The Centre has reportedly stopped releasing funds to Assam for the Jal Jeevan Mission, citing subpar implementation and financial mismanagement. Despite this, the minister has allegedly shown little urgency in securing additional funds or resolving the growing crisis, further aggravating the situation.

This has left numerous contractors stranded, unable to recover their dues, while engineers within the department are under pressure to push projects forward without financial backing.

Engineer Transfers, Promotions Also Under Scanner

Beyond the Jal Jeevan Mission, allegations have surfaced regarding the transfer and promotion of engineers within the PHED. Several engineers claim they were asked to pay between ₹10 to ₹15 lakh to secure transfers to preferred locations. These payments were allegedly routed through intermediaries with links to the minister’s inner circle.

Cash packets were reportedly sent through a trusted contractor to facilitate these unofficial transactions, exposing a disturbing nexus between political authority and departmental operations.

A Tarnished Image of “Clean Politics”

Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, who once projected himself as a torchbearer of corruption-free politics upon joining the BJP, is now facing severe backlash from within his own department and from the contractor community. With mounting dues, lack of central support, and alleged large-scale financial misconduct, the functioning of the PHED stands compromised.

Despite the growing unrest, Mallabaruah has reportedly made no official statement addressing the allegations. Meanwhile, those waiting for clean drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission — the very people the department is meant to serve — continue to suffer.

This report is based on information gathered from sources, contractor accounts, and internal communications. Attempts to reach Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.

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