New Delhi: The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation held the third District Collectors’ Peyjal Samvad, a dedicated platform aimed at strengthening rural water governance and improving the sustainability of drinking water services. The conference, conducted virtually, brought district administrations, technical teams and community representatives together under the theme “From Grassroot to Forefront”.

The discussions centred on real-time service delivery, source sustainability, water quality, infrastructure functionality and governance practices. District presentations moved beyond procedural updates and focused on evidence-backed performance and on-ground solutions.

The session was chaired by Ashok K.K. Meena, Secretary, DDWS, who said that while infrastructure creation has been a significant achievement, the real challenge lies in ensuring daily supply of quality water. He emphasised the central role of Gram Panchayats in operation and maintenance, describing them as the institutions closest to the people.

In her welcome address, Ankita Chakravarty, Deputy Secretary, NJJM, said that more than 530 District Collectors have submitted recordings of their DWSM meetings, offering insights on issues ranging from source sustainability and leakages to tariffs and water quality. She noted that over 85,000 Panchayats have accessed the Panchayat Dashboard to review their own data. She added that the Sujal Gram Samvad has shown that “Panchayat members are willing to take responsibility when they are given information, training and support.”

A key segment of the conference was a detailed presentation by Sumit Priyadarshi, Deputy Advisor, NJJM, on the Commissioning and Handing Over Protocol for Rural Piped Water Supply Schemes. The four-phase commissioning framework covers pre-commissioning documentation, system testing, trial operations and final documentation with digital integration into platforms such as JJM-WQMIS and PM Gati Shakti.

The Handing Over Protocol, released earlier this month, was also reviewed. It lays out a uniform process for transferring schemes to Gram Panchayats and VWSCs, with emphasis on governance readiness, O&M capacity, financial transparency, BIS-compliant water quality checks and community-led oversight. The formal handover events will be observed as Jal Arpan Diwas across villages, accompanied by activities such as Jal Bandhan, pledge ceremonies and cultural events to reinforce community ownership.

Collectors and District Magistrates from Mamit (Mizoram), Alluri Sitharama Raju (Andhra Pradesh), SAS Nagar (Punjab), Leh (Ladakh) and Ri Bhoi (Meghalaya) presented their field experiences.

In Mamit District, K. Laltlawmlova highlighted the transformation in Lallen village, where a community-led approach and solar-powered systems have helped deliver 24×7 water supply. Renovation of old gravity-fed structures, replacement of pipelines and new intake alignments were carried out with local support.

In Alluri Sitharama Raju District, A. S. Dinesh Kumar discussed the challenges of delivering drinking water in a predominantly tribal and geographically fragile region. The district has advanced gravity-fed spring systems, solar dual-pump systems, community-led water quality monitoring and spring-shed works under MGNREGA. With more than 7,000 JJM works completed and 1.8 lakh household tap connections provided, the focus is now on strengthening multi-village schemes and local O&M capacity.

In SAS Nagar District, Komal Mittal presented the district’s achievement of 100 percent Functional Household Tap Connections across more than 82,000 households and all schools and anganwadis. Strong planning through Village and District Action Plans and Gram Panchayat-led implementation were highlighted, along with advanced laboratory-based water quality monitoring and continuous service reviews.

For Leh District, Romil Singh Donk described a monitoring system that combines institutional strengthening, ground verification and social accountability. He cited the innovative pressure-regulated dripper technology used in Matho village, which ensures round-the-clock supply even in sub-zero temperatures.

In Ri Bhoi District, Abhilash Baranwal highlighted the role of more than 580 functional Village Water and Sanitation Committees and the deep community involvement led by women. Over 2,600 women have been trained in field testing kits for regular water quality checks. The district shared its work on source sustainability, including community-led progress in Pahamjri village.

In his closing remarks, Kamal Kishore Soan, AS&MD, NJJM, urged States to familiarise themselves with the updated commissioning and handover guidelines and ensure that these are shared in regional languages with Gram Panchayats. He encouraged districts to strengthen monitoring, focus on proper commissioning processes and build community participation through Jan Bhagidari. He added that “source rejuvenation and long-term sustenance must be treated as urgent priorities.”

The virtual event saw participation from senior officials of the Department, around 300 district representatives, Mission Directors, State Mission Teams, NWEs and RWPF partners.

The third District Collectors’ Peyjal Samvad reinforces NJJM’s commitment to improving district-level governance, enhancing technical processes and advancing community-driven water management to strengthen Har Ghar Jal.

BI Bureau