Guided by the high priority given to efficient management of the country’s water resources by the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation today organized the ‘National Review Meeting of National Rural Drinking Water Programme’ with respect to water quality, sustainability, and rural water supply.
The review was attended by Principal Secretaries and Chief Engineers of State Public Health Engineering Departments. It was organized to engage officials from various State Governments, receive feedback on critical issues pertaining to the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) and hold discussions around efficient utilization of funds. During the review, the State government officials provided feedback on ongoing programmes. It was observed, during the review, that effective measures are required to ensure sustainable supply of contaminant-free drinking water in India in the short term, medium term and long term.
Speaking at the review, the Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Shri Parameswaran Iyer, underscored the need to focus on outcomes, allocate resources strategically and prioritize water supply schemes which are at an advanced stage of completion. He stressed the importance of providing sustainable water supply services in rural areas and shifting the focus from construction to service delivery. He also emphasized the importance of water quality and the need to eliminate contaminants like Fluoride and Arsenic which cause adverse effects on public health. He announced that a National Sub-Mission to address Fluoride and Arsenic-affected habitations with additional Central funding is being considered and the guidelines for its implementation are being developed in consultation with NITI Aayog and the States.
He particularly highlighted the need to strengthen monitoring, evaluation and start geotagging of water sources for ensuring sustainability and addressing real time issues.
Talking about the Swachh Bharat Mission at the event, Shri Iyer also urged the States to focus on achieving Open Defecation Free status and emphasized the importance of convergence of schemes relating to sanitation and drinking water.
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Shri Satyabrata Sahu, gave a detailed and interactive presentation on changes in the NRDWP and details of the Sub-Mission on water quality.
Brainstorming sessions were organized at the review to strengthen monitoring and plan for piped water supply under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) and for ODF-verified villages, as well as the progress of Solar Dual Pump schemes. The sessions were followed by a concluding presentation which showcased innovative technologies to ensure sustainable water supply to drought-affected States.
