Published on: April 4, 2025
By: [BTI]
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
In view of the summer season and depleting groundwater levels, Rajnandgaon Collector Sanjay Agrawal chaired a high-level meeting of the District Water and Sanitation Committee today, urging the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department to stay proactive and ensure adequate drinking water arrangements across rural areas.
The meeting, held at the Collectorate conference hall, saw participation from key district-level officials, including CEO of Zila Panchayat Ms. Suruchi Singh, Executive Engineer and Committee Secretary Mr. Sameer Sharma, and MP Representative Mr. Bisesar Das Sahu.
Collector Agrawal directed all field staff of the PHE department to switch to “alert mode” and conduct regular village inspections, especially in those areas where hand pumps have stopped functioning due to low water tables. Immediate action is to be taken upon receiving any complaints, he emphasized.
He highlighted the need to not only manage the existing water crisis but also plan for sustainable water usage through rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge. Referring to the Jal Jeevan Mission, he advised officials to explore ways to effectively utilize rainwater and to focus on recharging more water than is consumed. The collector also emphasized the importance of massive tree plantation drives to help maintain underground water levels.
“It is crucial that all field-level officers and workers are well-informed about how to resolve water-related issues,” said Agrawal. “Only then can they properly educate and guide villagers on water conservation practices.”
During the meeting, it was reiterated that water resource management should go hand-in-hand with community awareness. The administration aims to involve villagers and local bodies in sustainable water practices under the larger umbrella of Jal Jeevan Mission.
This directive comes at a time when several villages in the district are facing water shortages due to falling water tables and malfunctioning hand pumps. The administration’s prompt measures seek to ensure that no village is left behind in accessing clean and safe drinking water during the peak summer months.
