Public health engineering (PHE) minister Pulak Roy said on Wednesday that nearly 20,000 cases of illegal tapping of water were detected from the department's main supply lines across Bengal and 467 police complaints filed so far.

Large-scale illegal tapping of water surfaced during an ongoing survey to identify misuse as complaints over piped water supply poured in from across the state.

During the Q&A session in the Assembly, Roy said: "During the screening, we have received complaints from 19,962 locations. So far, we have lodged 467 complaints with the police."

According to engineers, these 19,962 complaints are verified cases.

A statewide survey and crackdown on illegal water connections began last month on chief minister Mamata Banerjee's order after widespread complaints about water scarcity, coinciding with a review of the Centre-state Jal Jeevan Mission that revealed significant project delays.

Concerned over potential public dissatisfaction, Mamata instructed the PHE for a door-to-door survey, especially in areas with weak water flow.

Mamata also announced reviews every Monday to monitor progress.

Acting on her directions, the PHE, in collaboration with local administration and police, formed special task forces to disconnect illegal connections. These teams have been conducting raids, severing unauthorised pipelines and filing legal cases under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, as and when required.

East Midnapore and South 24-Parganas reported the highest numbers of complaints, with 3,890 and 3,879 cases, respectively.

According to PHE officials, many offenders tap rising pipelines that provide 24-hour water supply. Officials alleged that some illegal connections were facilitated with tacit political support.

Senior engineers confirmed that special teams have been visiting areas across the state to identify connections using motor pumps to draw water illegally. In South 24-Parganas alone, approximately 100 illegal connections have been disconnected in the past two days, including those supplying water to high-rises and factories.

However, officials reported facing resistance in certain areas, where survey teams were denied entry and threatened.

In Asansol, a crackdown began this week in coordination with the Asansol-Durgapur police commissionerate. Illegal pipelines connected to factories, hotels, restaurants, shops and petrol pumps in Salanpur block were dismantled. Residents complained of receiving water once every four days due to rampant illegal tapping of supply lines.

A similar effort in Jamuria block led by chief engineer Trina Bhaduri included action against nursery owners using illegal connections to water plants.

In Nadia's Karimpur, at least 20 unauthorised taps were disconnected on Wednesday.

The state has so far given drinking water connections to around 94.06 lakh households, out of its 1.75 crore target.

Officials aim to complete 80 per cent of the underground water supply projects by next year. Delays persist in areas relying on surface water sources such as rivers.