Deputy Chief Minister participated in the state level workshop on operation and maintenance of water supply schemes.

PHE in collaboration with UNICEF and ACE organized a workshop for women Sarpanches of Har Ghar Jal certified villages

Raipur, July 2026. Deputy Chief Minister and Public Health Engineering Minister Shri Arun Saw today attended a state-level workshop on operation and maintenance of rural pipeline water supply schemes for women Sarpanches of Har Ghar Jal certified villages under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Addressing the women Sarpanches at the workshop held at the Rajiv Gandhi National Ground Water Training and Research Institute (RGNGWTRI) in Nava Raipur, he said that rainwater harvesting and water conservation are essential for the long-term smooth operation of water supply schemes. This will recharge groundwater and maintain water availability in water sources for a long time.

In the workshop, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Saw inquired from the Sarpanchs about the changes that have taken place in the lives of the villagers, especially women, after the availability of tap water in every house in the villages. He asked about the arrangements made by the Panchayats for the operation and maintenance of the tap water schemes. He also inquired about the water sources in the villages, regular testing of water quality and maintenance charges. This one-day state-level workshop was organized by the Public Health Engineering Department in collaboration with UNICEF and ACE (Action for Community Development). About 100 women Sarpanchs participated in it.

In the workshop, extensive discussions were held on the operation, maintenance and repair of tap water schemes in Har Ghar Jal certified villages and best practices were discussed in depth. During this, women Sarpanches shared their experiences of water supply arrangements and operation and maintenance of tap water schemes in their respective Panchayats under Jal Jeevan Mission. In the workshop, experts told the women Sarpanches the tricks for successful, uninterrupted and long-term operation of tap water schemes.

Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Sao stated at the workshop that the water sources used for water supply must be cared for and used carefully. The long-term success of the scheme depends on their sustainability. He stated that after the completion of the tap water schemes and their transfer to the Panchayats, the Gram Panchayats will be responsible for their operation and maintenance. Jal Jeevan Mission is a scheme for our homes and our villages. Gram Panchayats, in collaboration with villagers, must make the water supply system self-sufficient. Shri Sao emphasized the importance of maintaining water levels and recharging groundwater sources, building stop dams, and storing rainwater. He said that all villages should make arrangements to properly fill ponds by removing encroachments and obstructions to the natural flow of rainwater.

Mr. Mohammad Qaiser Abdulhaq, Secretary of the Public Health Engineering Department, Ms. Ruby Mukherjee, Director of the Rajiv Gandhi National Ground Water Training and Research Institute, and Ms. Shweta Patnaik, Water and Sanitation Specialist, UNICEF, also addressed the workshop. Mr. K.K. Markam, Chief Engineer, and Mr. Sameer Gaur, Superintending Engineer, were also present.