Karnataka received less than 50% of funds allocated by Centre under JJM: Audit report

Karnataka received less than 50% of the funds allocated by the Centre under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), primarily due to poor utilisation of released funds, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

The report, tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, for the period 2019–20 to 2023–24, noted that the State received ₹11,189.37 crore—about 45% of the total allocation of ₹24,819.48 crore.

It attributed low fund utilisation to the reduced engagement of implementation support agencies. Spending on water quality monitoring and surveillance dropped sharply, from 50% in 2019–20 to just 2% in 2023–24, leading to infrastructure gaps such as inadequate water testing laboratories and equipment.

The audit further highlighted negligible community participation, with only ₹22.75 crore mobilised against an expected ₹1,594.90 crore. Delays of three to nine months in submitting utilisation certificates and audited accounts contributed to the State not receiving the remaining central assistance.

The findings are seen as a setback for the State government, which has been criticising the Union government for insufficient fund release under the scheme, implemented by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department.

Against a target of 72.14 lakh households, tap water connections were provided to 47.62 lakh households (66%) as of November 2024. The shortfall was attributed to delays in tendering, execution of works without ensuring land availability, and slow approvals, the report said.