GOVERNOR BRIEFED ON RURAL WATER SUPPLY MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES

Deptt directed to reinforce water supply infrastructure against natural disasters and contamination

GANGTOK, 15 March: A presentation on water supply management in rural Sikkim was made before Governor BP Singh by RMDD Secretary AK Ganeriwala at Raj Bhavan Winter Camp in Rangpo today. Emphasizing the need to distinguish between water supply and drinking water supply, the Governor reminded the concerned officials of the need to strengthen water supply infrastructure in a manner that it was not vulnerable to natural disasters and contamination.
The Governor, a Raj Bhavan communiqué informs, was apprised of the successful implementation of the Rural Water Supply Scheme in adherence to National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). The Department is undertaking schemes like Dhara Vikas to ensure sustainability of these water sources by recharging the groundwater level.
Some of the interventions are visible in the revival of Dolling Lake at Barfung and Deythang Lake under Ravangla Block, the revival of which now benefits around 90 households and has supported floriculture and horticulture activities in the area.
Under NRDWP, it was informed that out of 2,498 rural habitations in Sikkim, 1,833 have already been fully covered, 665 household partially covered and no habitation left ‘uncovered’.
To mitigate water shortage in dry areas in Sikkim, RMDD has been facilitating construction of roof harvesting structures. Since 2008, a total of 1,704 such structures have been constructed in the State. Further, a number of storage tanks have also been constructed to preclude water scarcity problem.
It was informed that although NRDWP - a Central Government Scheme - follows 90:10 ratio vis-a-vis Centre:State share, the State government’s share, at its own initiative, is close to fifty percent of the total pool.
In order to monitor drinking water quality, the Department has opened two state-of-the-art labs with latest equipment- one at Tadong, Gangtok and the other at Jorethang.
The Governor emphasized the need to distinguish between water supply and drinking water supply to the rural areas. He said that drinking water supply system needs to be strengthened in a manner that is not vulnerable to natural disasters and contamination.
He directed the Department to evolve a more holistic approach to reach safe drinking water to each and every household in the villages.
The Governor was pleased to know that under this scheme, the planning is initiated at the gram sabha level. He wanted the department to promote local initiatives in water conservation. The Department must devise a system that meets complaints of the local people about the quality of drinking water. The system should also allow sharing of information of the nature of contamination in drinking water found in the labs with the stakeholders.