Dharamshala, Aug. 2 -- Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Sunday alleged that the Centre has withheld Rs 1,227 crore due to the state under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), resulting in delays in several drinking water projects and pending payments to contractors.
Speaking to mediapersons at Fatehpur in Kangra district, Agnihotri said the Centre was required to release nearly Rs 6,000 crore to Himachal Pradesh under the Jal Jeevan Mission, but Rs 1,227 crore is still pending despite the state having fulfilled all mandatory conditions and formalities.
He said the state government has released Rs 100 crore from its own resources to ensure that development works do not come to a standstill. However, he added that several...