Panel Discussion On Achieving Universal Access To Rural Drinking Water, Organised On The Sidelines Of India Water Week 2024.

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New Delhi, Delhi, 19th of September, 2024 : As part of India Water Week 2024, a pivotal panel discussion was organised on the theme, ‘Achieving Universal Access to Drinking Water in Rural Areas’. The session, which brought together key stakeholders and experts in the water sector, was chaired by Additional Secretary (M/o Housing and Urban Affairs), Smt. D. Thara, and co-chaired by Additional Secretary & Mission Director of the National Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar.

Smt. D. Thara, in her opening remarks, underlined the need for a unified approach in rural and urban water governance. She stressed that working in silos may hinder achieving long-term outcomes. She also emphasized the importance of citizen activism in rural water management, encouraging rural communities to take an active role in securing their water needs and driving local solutions.

Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar delivered a comprehensive presentation, beginning with a thought-provoking clip from the 1972 film, Do Boond Pani, which poignantly depicted the struggles faced by rural women who had to travel long distances for water. He then offered an insightful historical journey of global and national water management, leading up to the launch of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). His presentation showcased the unprecedented scale of JJM’s impact, particularly in improving the quality of life, health, and well-being of rural populations.

Dr. Kumar also shed light on the mission’s achievements, such as coverage expansion, time savings, and health benefits. Importantly, he highlighted the progress made in balancing the reliance on groundwater and surface water, noting a shift from the previous 85% groundwater and 15% surface water dependency to a more sustainable 52%:48% ratio today. Dr. Kumar further emphasized the importance of water source sustainability, institutional and financial sustainability, and the ongoing Operations & Maintenance (O&M) measures being taken to ensure the long-term success of the schemes.

Dr. Raj Shekhar, Secretary (Government of Uttar Pradesh), shared insights into the state’s remarkable achievement of 85% coverage under Jal Jeevan Mission. He discussed the grievance redressal mechanisms, SCADA and automation systems for monitoring, as well as the solar-powered drinking water schemes being implemented in Uttar Pradesh. He also spoke about the state’s best practices in ensuring seamless water supply to rural areas.

Director of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department, Karnataka, Shri Nagendra Prasad K., brought attention to sustainability strategies the state is adopting to mitigate dependence on groundwater, seasonal variations in water availability and quality, and costs for operating multi-village schemes (MVS). Additionally, he discussed that focus should be given on user charges, convergence of funds to achieve financial stability of water supply schemes. Karnataka has adopted a community-led approach, leveraging technology and focusing on the financial and operational sustainability of water resources, he informed.

Key Takeaways from the Panel Discussion:

Achieving universal access to rural drinking water requires collaborative governance between rural and urban frameworks.
Active community participation and local ownership are essential to sustainable water resource management.
The shift from groundwater to surface water sources marks a significant improvement in sustainable water practices.
States like Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka are leveraging innovation and community involvement to ensure the long-term success of JJM schemes.

The session concluded with a focus on the importance of continued efforts to sustain water management systems, while empowering rural communities to become water custodians for future generations.