A newly constructed water tank in Sitapur district collapsed on Thursday, raising serious concerns about the quality and oversight of infrastructure projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
The 3,500-litre zincalume tank, built at a cost of Rs 5.31 crore and commissioned in January 2024, served as the sole water source for over 5,000 residents across eight villages, including Chunkaw Behema. The collapse has left these communities without a crucial supply of drinking water, highlighting the vulnerabilities in the state’s infrastructure development efforts. This incident marks the second such failure in Sitapur and the fifth in Uttar Pradesh, despite the testing of over 16,000 tanks under the Jal Jeevan Mission. The State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM) has taken swift action, suspending or dismissing 12 officials, including engineers from the Rural Water Corporation and the Mission itself.
The construction agency, NCC Limited, has been blacklisted, and a 5% liquidated damages penalty has been imposed. Additionally, the district’s third-party inspection head was dismissed on the spot. A high-level committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the collapse and deliver a report within three days. Meanwhile, the Additional Chief Secretary and Mission Director have ordered a technical audit of all Har Ghar Jal tanks in Sitapur to prevent further incidents. The collapse has sparked outrage among local communities and demands for greater accountability and transparency in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission. Residents are calling for stricter quality control measures and more rigorous oversight to ensure that such failures do not recur.
This incident underscores the critical need for robust infrastructure planning and execution, especially in rural areas where access to clean drinking water is a fundamental necessity. As the state continues to invest in large-scale infrastructure projects, it is imperative that quality assurance and accountability mechanisms are strengthened to safeguard public resources and ensure the well-being of all citizens. The Sitapur water tank collapse serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced in rural infrastructure development and the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to address these issues effectively.
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