DC Orders Identification of ‘Dry Zones’ to Tackle Water Scarcity

Jamshedpur: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rajiv Ranjan chaired a review meeting of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department at the Collectorate Auditorium on Monday. The session focused on securing uninterrupted drinking water, managing water-scarce regions, and accelerating district-wide sanitation projects.

Ensuring Water Supply and Infrastructure Repair

The Deputy Commissioner reviewed urban and block-level water supply, specifically focusing on identifying “dry zones” and coordinating tanker-based distribution.

• Contingency Planning: Officials must submit updated lists of water-scarce areas and zones requiring tankers, alongside detailed plans to prevent supply interruptions.
• Urban Monitoring: The DC ordered regular monitoring and prompt issue resolution in high-need urban areas like Mango and Bagbera.
• Infrastructure Maintenance: Repair teams received directives to prioritize restoring defunct hand pumps and water towers.
• Mandatory Cleaning: Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, all water tower tanks must be cleaned twice annually, with the next round required before the monsoon.

Grievance Redressal and Sanitation Progress

The department reported that 755 out of 833 complaints received via the Jhar-Jal portal, social media, and newspapers have been resolved. The DC instructed that all remaining pending complaints be addressed immediately.

The meeting also addressed sanitation linked to housing schemes:

• Toilet Construction: Toilets must be built alongside houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana and Abua Awaas Yojana.
• Monthly Targets: Officials aim to complete 529 toilets within the current month.

Model Village Initiative

The administration is working toward transforming all 1,640 district villages into “Model Villages” by March 2027. Currently, 357 villages have achieved this status. The initiative evaluates six components:

• Solid and liquid waste management.
• Construction and consistent usage of toilets.
• Access to clean drinking water.
• Menstrual hygiene management and general sanitation awareness.

Deputy Development Commissioner Nagendra Paswan and Executive Engineers Sunil Kumar and Sumit Kumar were among the officials in attendance.