In Mahoba district in Uttar Pradesh, an overhead tank valued at ₹65 lakh is already leaking within the first days after construction. The tank was built under the Jal Jeevan Mission, a government initiative put in place to deliver clean drinking water for rural households. But the incident has caused local people to take it as a big problem on par with its poor construction quality and corrupt public works. The tank, in Charakhari and Jaitpur blocks, was being filled so that water could be tested when water began gushing out through cracks in its walls. Videos of the leaking tank went viral on social media; the videos showed streams of water falling behind, and villagers expressed indignation at the embezzlement of public funds. The tank hadn’t even finished a year since construction, yet it broke down in its original test.
Villagers and local leaders denounced the incident as a “fountain of corruption.” Older water tanks constructed years ago under past governments remain standing and need to be dismantled using strong machinery like JCBs, many said. The new tank was found to have fallen off almost at once. People had to wonder what materials were used and how the project was properly supervised.
The issue has also taken a political turn. Local MLAs have accused officials and contractors of misappropriating funds and compromising on quality. There have been complaints filed with senior ministers, calling for tougher action against culprits. The opposition has used the moment to point out corruption in the current administration and compare the same corruption with infrastructure built in earlier regimes that is hard to rebuild.
The leaking tank is not only a local embarrassment but also a setback for the Jal Jeevan Mission, which is working to deliver tap water to every household. If these occurrences are the norm the public trust in the program could suffer. But more rigorous monitoring, transparent tender procedures and accountability for contractors are crucial to avoid such failures, experts say.
The Mahoba water tank situation has come to stand as a symbol of corruption and poor quality work in public projects. What the villagers have had a chance to gain access to as a clean source of water, can now serve as a warning of recklessness and misappropriation. The people of Mahoba want accountability and expect future projects to prioritize durability and truth over shortcuts as investigations push forward.
