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Haryana minister reviews drinking water services, calls for inspections & swift action

Haryana minister reviews drinking water services, calls for inspections & swift action

Time of India23-04-2025

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Panchkula: Haryana's public health and engineering and PWD (BR) minister, Ranbir Gangwa, held a comprehensive review meeting on Wednesday with state officials of the public health department at Red Bishop, Sector 1, and through video conferencing with officers across the state. The meeting focused on ensuring the effective functioning of the state's drinking water supply system, especially amid rising temperatures.
Gangwa directed all officers to conduct regular field visits to inspect and rectify any faults in the water supply system. He emphasised that with summer at its peak, uninterrupted access to safe drinking water must be a top priority. "Every citizen deserves adequate drinking water, and we must ensure this through timely inspections and quick resolutions," he said.
He also instructed officials to take strict action against any illegal water connections and prevent leakage due to unauthorised usage. Officers were also warned not to leave their stations without prior approval and to maintain close coordination with power and irrigation departments to manage water and electricity supply smoothly.
He warned of strict action against tube well operators found neglecting their duties or outsourcing their responsibilities. Surprise inspections of tube wells have been mandated to curb such malpractices.
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The minister also reviewed ongoing projects under the public health engineering department, including pipeline installations and water works construction, and urged officials to expedite these projects to meet deadlines ahead of schedule.
For areas facing water shortages, Gangwa said water tankers will be dispatched within 12 hours of receiving a request via PHE department portal. The govt will also prioritise the drilling of new tube wells where old ones failed and deploy generators to maintain supply during power outages.
Also, officials were instructed to monitor water quality. Any failed water samples must be retested immediately, and repeated issues must be addressed at the source. Notices will be issued to those found wasting water, and a public campaign will be launched to promote responsible water use.

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