Puducherry updates rules to improve rural water access
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
The Puducherry government established new rules for maintaining rural water systems, aiming to deliver safe and reliable drinking water to households.
The Local Administration Department issued a revised Operation and Maintenance Policy focused on long-term system performance, incorporating provisions from Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0. This change addresses concerns about declining groundwater, drought, seawater intrusion, and water quality issues affecting the territory’s rural population, which comprises about 32% of residents.
The policy mandates a minimum daily supply of 55 litres per person and requires water to meet Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) drinking water standards with a residual chlorine level of at least 0.20 parts per million. Authorities must test water sources before and after the monsoon and clean storage tanks monthly. When contamination occurs, officials will isolate the source, notify consumers, and provide alternative water while disinfecting the system.
The revised policy sets time limits for repairs, leaks within 24 hours, major damage within 48 hours, and requires resolving complaints about supply or water quality within 24 hours. To reduce water loss, the government plans to decrease non-revenue water, water produced but not billed, to below 15% in three years and below 10% in five years by using technologies like bulk meters and remote monitoring systems.
Village Water and Sanitation Committees will oversee local operations, collect user charges, and manage conservation efforts, with a focus on prioritizing drinking water needs.
