Lucknow,

02 May (HS): As part of the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Uttar Pradesh government

adopted a 10-year operations and maintenance (O&M) 'warranty' for rural

drinking water facilities. The government stated that this move represents a

substantial transition from a construction-centric strategy to long-term,

service-oriented, and community-driven water supply management programs.

Furthermore, the government has created the 'Jal Arpan' project, which aims to

empower villages by changing them from passive recipients to active

participants, giving them ownership, accountability, and leadership in the

administration of local water supply systems.

This

technique ensures long-term sustainability while increasing community

engagement. Under the new system, construction firms will be held liable for

the operation and maintenance of water supply infrastructure for 10 years.

Anurag

Srivastava, Additional Chief Secretary of Namami Ganga and Rural Water Supply

Department, stated that they will work closely with Gram Panchayats to provide

continuous direction and assistance to guarantee the long-term success of the

Har Ghar Jal or water-for-all plan. A tripartite agreement between the Village

Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC), Jal Nigam, and the O&M Agency will

ensure long-term sustainability as well as the meeting of all Service Level

Benchmarks (SLBs) for quality services. A substantial emphasis has been placed

on community participation. Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs),

also known as 'Paani Samitis', are actively involved at all stages, from

planning and design to everyday operations and maintenance. Previously, several

rural water projects collapsed owing to poor maintenance, significant unpaid

power bills, and minimal community engagement.

As

a result, assets deteriorated significantly, leaving many communities without

adequate water supplies. According to Raj Shekhar, Managing Director of Uttar

Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural), this circumstance would not happen again. Shekhar, a

2004-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, adding that

capacity-building measures have expanded through training programs for Gram

Panchayats and local stakeholders, such as water quality monitoring using field

test kits. Water conservation and ethical consumption are being encouraged

through awareness campaigns, teaching programs in schools, and community

outreach activities.

To

promote accountability and transparency, the state has expanded its water

quality monitoring systems to include district-level, state-level, and mobile

NABL-accredited laboratories. A Citizen Charter is also being proposed to

protect consumer rights concerning water quality, quantity, and service

delivery. Furthermore, an online grievance redressal system has been developed,

allowing citizens to lodge concerns through a toll-free hotline or an online

site, assuring fast resolution and enhanced service accountability,

stated Shekhar. Uttar

Pradesh's reforms aim to turn the Jal Jeevan Mission into a long-term,

community-managed public utility model that ensures rural communities have

access to clean drinking water.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi