Sabroom:The state government has launched a new Operation and Maintenance (O&M) policy aimed at ensuring long-term, uninterrupted upkeep of rural drinking water supply schemes under the central Jal Jeevan Mission.
Under the policy, Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) in gram panchayats and ADC villages will now handle local-level tasks such as fixing minor pipeline leaks, repairing valves and taps, operating motors and routine cleaning, allowing faster on-ground fixes. Major infrastructure — including Water Treatment Plants, Iron Removal Plants and other key installations — will continue to be maintained by the Public Health Engineering (Drinking Water and Sanitation) Department.
To sustain the system long-term, water usage charges will be collected from beneficiaries as per government norms, with proceeds going toward electricity bills and upkeep costs.
Debabrata Tripura, officer-in-charge of the Sabroom DWS Sub-Division, said the policy — applicable only to gram panchayats and ADC villages, not nagar panchayats — will boost public participation, transparency and accountability, while ensuring major issues are addressed swiftly.
Sabroom subdivision, covering three RD blocks, includes 39 gram panchayats under Satchand, 18 ADC village offices under Rupaichhari, and 7 units under Poangbari. Officials expect the move to speed up resolution of rural water supply problems.