Shallow Pits, AI Images: Doubt raises over Khandwa’s ₹2 Cr JSJB Honour

A prestigious national award received by Khandwa district under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Jal Jeevan Mission (JSJB) has come under scrutiny following an investigation by Dainik Bhaskar , which alleged discrepancies between official records and on-ground realities of water conservation works.

On November 18, 2025 , Khandwa Collector Rishabh Gupta and District Panchayat CEO Dr. Nagarjun B. Gowda were conferred the first-place JSJB award by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony held in New Delhi. The district was also awarded a ₹2 crore incentive grant for its reported achievements in water conservation and rejuvenation of water bodies.

The JSJB award, instituted by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, is aimed at encouraging districts to undertake sustainable water management measures such as pond rejuvenation, rainwater harvesting, watershed development, and groundwater recharge. Performance is assessed through data uploaded on a central portal, supported by geo-tagged photographs and periodic verifications.

However, a subsequent Dainik Bhaskar investigation raised serious concerns over the authenticity of the data submitted by Khandwa district. According to the report, ground-level inspections at several locations showed shallow pits instead of fully developed ponds , while in some cases standing wheat crops were allegedly marked as water structures in official records.

The report also claimed that AI-generated watermarks were found on a few geo-tagged photographs uploaded as proof of completed works, suggesting possible manipulation of visual evidence. Additionally, villagers in multiple locations reportedly stated that funds were shown as disbursed for water conservation projects, even though no substantial work had taken place on the ground .

Responding to the allegations, Khandwa district officials categorically denied any falsification of data submitted for the JSJB award. They stated that the AI-generated images cited in the report were uploaded on a separate educational or awareness portal, not on the official JSJB monitoring platform used for evaluation.

Officials further maintained that all works uploaded on the JSJB portal were verified at multiple levels, including ministry-led inspections, and that the district was awarded only after due diligence by the Centre. “The award was not based solely on uploaded photographs but on comprehensive verification by concerned authorities,” an official said.

Despite the official denial, the revelations have sparked demands for an independent probe to re-verify the works cited during the award evaluation process. Experts note that the controversy underscores broader concerns about data-driven governance, where reliance on digital submissions without robust field audits can lead to misreporting.

The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti has not yet issued a formal response on whether it will re-examine the award or order a fresh assessment of Khandwa’s JSJB claims.