Hemant Soren Warns Officials Against Lapses in Drinking Water Supply, Pushes for Faster JJM Implementation

Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday issued strict instructions to officials, stating that any negligence in ensuring the availability of safe drinking water would not be tolerated. Chairing a high-level review meeting of the state's Drinking Water and Sanitation Department at the Jharkhand Secretariat, he directed authorities to accelerate the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission and ensure that every household receives clean drinking water through piped connections within the stipulated timeline.

The Chief Minister emphasized that drinking water is a basic necessity directly linked to public welfare and directed officials to complete maintenance and repair work of water supply systems without delay. He instructed departments to closely monitor areas vulnerable to water scarcity and take immediate action wherever shortages arise to ensure uninterrupted access to safe drinking water.

State Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister Yogendra Prasad was also present during the meeting.

Focus on Training and Empowering Jal Sahiyas

Soren directed officials to provide regular vocational plumbing training to Jal Sahiyas through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). He suggested assigning them responsibilities such as repairing defunct hand pumps and maintaining solar-powered water supply systems. He also called for incentive and promotional programs to recognize and reward Jal Sahiyas delivering exceptional service.

Real-Time Monitoring of Water Projects

Reviewing the progress of ongoing drinking water projects, the Chief Minister instructed officials to create WhatsApp groups involving contractors working on major schemes and ensure daily progress updates. He stressed the need for continuous monitoring and stronger implementation mechanisms to bring critical water supply projects to the ground level effectively.

He also asked the department to develop a stronger framework for the Jal Jeevan Mission, prepare backup financial plans to avoid disruptions, and obtain utilization certificates promptly after project completion. Modernization of water recharge systems, including soak pits and other groundwater replenishment measures, was also emphasized. Soren further directed that all Anganwadi centres must be provided with access to safe drinking water.

Officials informed the meeting that the state aims to provide piped drinking water to 100 percent of rural households under the Jal Jeevan Mission by December 2028.

Long-Term Plans for Water Conservation

The Chief Minister highlighted the government's commitment to ensuring that people in rural and remote areas receive drinking water facilities comparable to those available in urban centres. He called for stronger coordination among agencies involved in water supply projects.

Soren also stressed the importance of water conservation and the protection of water sources. He directed officials to formulate both short-term and long-term strategies for rainwater harvesting, water conservation, and maintaining groundwater levels. In addition, he asked the department to launch extensive awareness campaigns encouraging responsible water usage among citizens.

Reuse Defunct Hand Pump Borewells for Groundwater Recharge

Expressing concern over falling groundwater levels, the Chief Minister directed officials to convert borewells of non-functional hand pumps into recharge pits. This would help capture rainwater and replenish groundwater reserves. He also instructed authorities to encourage the construction of soak pits for collecting and filtering wastewater, which could contribute to improving groundwater levels.

Ensuring Safe Drinking Water and Plastic-Free Villages

Soren raised concerns over water quality issues and reiterated that access to clean drinking water is the right of every citizen. Along with expanding piped water supply, he asked officials to take additional measures to guarantee water quality.

The Chief Minister also called for public awareness campaigns about the environmental hazards of plastic waste and suggested that villages making significant efforts to become plastic-free should be rewarded by the government.

Key Schemes Reviewed

During the meeting, the Chief Minister conducted a detailed review of several flagship schemes and programmes, including the Jal Jeevan Mission, water quality monitoring initiatives, distribution of water-testing kits to Jal Sahiyas, Har Ghar Jal progress, financial planning and expenditure, multi-village and single-village water supply schemes, tube well projects, welfare department-funded schemes, and initiatives under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

He also reviewed progress on individual household toilets, ODF Plus villages, solid and liquid waste management, and the GOBARdhan Scheme, issuing several directives to improve implementation and accountability.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Avinash Kumar, Development Commissioner Ajay Kumar Singh, Drinking Water and Sanitation Department Secretary Abu Imran, Additional Secretary Shashi Ranjan, and other senior officials.