New Delhi, Oct 15 Five districts from Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Jharkhand showcased innovative practices in rural drinking water management, including community participation, water conservation and technology-driven monitoring, during the Jal Shakti Ministry’s 13th District Collectors’ Peyjal Samvad on Thursday, officials said.
The event was organised by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) through video conferencing to discuss the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 and share best practices in rural drinking water service delivery, according to an official statement.
During the meeting, Kanpur Nagar in Uttar Pradesh highlighted digital grievance redressal, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)-based monitoring and community-led water quality surveillance involving trained women volunteers.
West Tripura in Tripura showcased rooftop rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, catchment protection, afforestation and greywater management, alongside greater involvement of self-help groups and local institutions, the statement said.
Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu presented village-level water budgeting, groundwater recharge and technology-based monitoring, including Internet of Things-enabled systems to track water supply and reduce losses. The district also highlighted low-cost water disinfection systems.
Bargarh in Odisha highlighted a three-stage approach to drinking water projects covering execution, commissioning, and operation and maintenance, according to the statement.
The district also showcased round-the-clock piped water supply to IIM Sambalpur through a multi-village scheme.
Palamu in Jharkhand presented its district control room, grievance redressal mechanisms, Internet of Things-enabled monitoring and community-based water quality surveillance. Its Jalkar Bhugtan Abhiyan aims to strengthen user-charge collection and ensure sustainable operation and maintenance of rural drinking water infrastructure.
The meeting was chaired by DDWS Secretary Ashok K K Meena, who stressed the role of district administrations in ensuring the sustainability of rural water supply systems, effective operation and maintenance, and greater community ownership of drinking water infrastructure.
Meena directed districts to hold regular monthly meetings of District Water and Sanitation Missions and upload their minutes on the designated portal to strengthen accountability and monitoring.
Highlighting findings from Jal Seva Aankalan, he urged districts to review functionality assessment reports and district improvement plans. He also called for exploring solarisation of rural water supply schemes to improve reliability and operational efficiency.
He emphasised the use of the Decision Support System, which integrates groundwater, rainfall, hydrological and Jal Jeevan Mission data, to identify water-stressed areas and plan interventions for source sustainability, the statement said.
The secretary also called for convergence with VB-G RAM G and other programmes for groundwater recharge, source protection and water conservation in vulnerable areas. He stressed that certificates following the formal handover of drinking water supply schemes under Jal Arpan should be retained in the respective local languages through the Jal Arpan Module.
Additional Secretary and National Jal Jeevan Mission Mission Director Kamal Kishore Soan emphasised training and capacity building of Gram Panchayats, Village Water and Sanitation Committees, Panchayat Secretaries and Sujalam Shakti Groups for the long-term operation and maintenance of drinking water infrastructure.
He also encouraged districts to organise exposure visits for higher-secondary and senior school students to water supply schemes, treatment facilities, laboratories and SCADA-enabled systems to promote awareness about water infrastructure and conservation.
The presentations highlighted achievements, ongoing challenges and best practices adopted by districts to improve rural drinking water services and accelerate progress under the Har Ghar Jal initiative, the statement said.
(PTI News)
