Centre's nod for Pondy's water supply plan

Puducherry

For this work, village level planning involving the local community is in full swing despite COVID-19, an official statement said. Gram Sabhas are conducted in villages maintaining social distancing. Local community will play a pivotal role in planning, implementation, management, operation and maintenance of water supply systems in villages to ensure long-term sustainability.

The UT has been advised to focus on 24x7 service delivery in rural areas, so that the villages can act as ‘utilities’ with focus on ‘service delivery.’ It’s also planned to conduct Internet of Things (IoT) based sensor monitoring for water supply in villages. With the summer in full swing, monsoons approaching and country grappling with COVID-19 pandemic, it has become more imperative to provide livelihood to the migrant workers who have returned to their native villages by providing jobs related to water supply especially water conservation works in every village that will ensure sufficient ground water availability leading to water security, water availability for agriculture and most importantly will help in provision of drinking water to every rural household, the statement said.

Local communities are encouraged to take responsibility of water supply systems for regular upkeep and maintenance. Not only emphasis is given on revamping of traditional water bodies, but due care also is given on grey water treatment, it said.