THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, June 9: Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday directed officials to accelerate the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission and ensure the supply of clean drinking water to every household in Jharkhand within a fixed timeframe, asserting that drinking water availability is a critical issue directly linked to people’s lives.
Reviewing the progress of schemes being implemented by the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department for the 2025-26 financial year and the action plan for 2026-27 at the Jharkhand Mantralaya, Soren warned that any laxity in drinking water-related works would not be tolerated.
Focus on ‘Har Ghar Jal’
The Chief Minister instructed officials to speed up work under the Jal Jeevan Mission and closely monitor areas vulnerable to drinking water shortages. He directed the department to identify water-stressed regions and take immediate measures to ensure uninterrupted access to clean drinking water.
Officials informed the meeting that efforts are underway to provide piped drinking water connections to 100 percent rural households by December 2028.
Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister Yogendra Prasad was present during the review meeting.
Training for Jal Sahiyas
Soren directed that Jal Sahiyas be provided periodic plumbing training through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and be entrusted with repairing faulty handpumps and maintaining solar-powered water supply systems.
He also called for recognition and rewards for high-performing Jal Sahiyas and asked the department to organize promotional programmes to strengthen community participation.
ALSO READ: Girl booked by RPF for making reels at railway station in Jharkhand’s Palamu
Real-Time Monitoring of Projects
To improve project monitoring, the Chief Minister instructed officials to create WhatsApp groups for contractors executing major projects so that daily progress updates can be tracked in real time.
He also directed officials to obtain utilisation certificates immediately after project completion and develop robust financial and operational frameworks to ensure timely implementation of water supply schemes.
Emphasis on Water Conservation
Soren stressed the need for effective short-term and long-term plans for rainwater harvesting, water conservation and groundwater recharge.
He directed officials to utilise boreholes of defunct handpumps as recharge pits and promote the construction of soak pits to improve groundwater levels. He also called for large-scale public awareness campaigns on water conservation.
Clean Drinking Water and Plastic-Free Villages
Expressing concern over water quality issues, the Chief Minister said access to clean drinking water is the right of every citizen and directed officials to strengthen water quality monitoring mechanisms.
He also emphasized public awareness campaigns against plastic pollution and suggested rewarding villages that successfully become plastic-free.
Review of Key Schemes
During the meeting, the Chief Minister reviewed the progress of the Jal Jeevan Mission, water quality monitoring and surveillance, Har Ghar Jal implementation, multi-village and single-village water supply schemes, tube wells, Swachh Bharat Mission programmes, ODF Plus villages, solid and liquid waste management initiatives and the GOBAR-DHAN scheme.
He directed officials to maintain transparency, strengthen grievance redressal mechanisms and ensure effective implementation of all drinking water and sanitation programmes across the state.
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 attended the review meeting.