New Delhi: The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation on Tuesday organised a Minister-level policy dialogue in New Delhi to strengthen rural water O&M under the Jal Jeevan Mission, with Centre and States focusing on long-term service sustainability.
The meeting brought together Union and State Ministers, senior officials, and sector experts. They discussed ways to ensure reliable and citizen-centric drinking water delivery as the mission moves beyond infrastructure creation.
Officials stressed that sustained rural water O&M requires strong institutions, predictable funding, and empowered local governments. They also highlighted the need for robust digital monitoring systems. The dialogue reaffirmed that Gram Panchayats and community institutions remain central to service delivery under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
The policy dialogue saw participation from Deputy Chief Ministers and Ministers handling Public Health Engineering, Panchayati Raj, and Rural Development. In addition, senior secretaries and mission directors from States and Union Territories attended. Overall, more than 150 officials from PHED, Panchayati Raj, and Rural Development departments took part.
Ministers stress framework for rural water O&M sustainability
Panchayati Raj Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh said the focus must now shift to sustained rural water O&M. He stated that Gram Panchayats should anchor service delivery. He also said O&M needs formal attention during the 16th Finance Commission cycle.
Singh highlighted the role of Village Water and Sanitation Committees and strong monitoring systems. He added that willingness to pay user charges showed rising trust in services. He said drinking water plans must integrate with Gram Panchayat Development Plans.
Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil called for financial discipline in the next phase of the mission. He said fund releases would follow MoUs and performance benchmarks. He added that future releases would link to 15 days of continuous water supply.
Minister of State V. Somanna said monitoring systems must evolve. He noted that States should gradually lead monitoring using IoT-based tools. He added that local ownership of schemes would improve accountability.
DDWS Secretary Ashok K.K. Meena said rural water O&M is now central to water governance. He pointed to challenges such as weak technical capacity and limited financial planning at the Panchayat level. He stressed legal recognition for Village Water and Sanitation Committees.
Panchayati Raj Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj said departmental efforts alone cannot sustain systems. He underlined the role of Panchayats and elected representatives. He expressed hope for dedicated O&M funding support from the 16th Finance Commission.
Officials also discussed national initiatives such as Jal Arpan, Jal Utsav, and Jal Seva Aankalan. They highlighted source sustainability measures and GIS-based asset mapping. States shared best practices and local challenges during the dialogue.
