Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed officials to develop a long-term plan for water supply, considering the state’s needs for the next 30 years. Emphasizing rainwater conservation and groundwater recharge, he stressed public participation in rejuvenating water sources, rivers, and streams. The plan will have separate strategies for 10-year and 30-year periods, ensuring clean drinking water reaches the state’s remotest areas.
In a high-level meeting at the Secretariat, the Chief Minister instructed that sewage treatment plants (STPs) be set up along the Ganga’s tributaries and public suggestions be incorporated into cleanliness efforts. He also stressed that connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission must provide regular water supply, with old and new water sources identified to address summer shortages. Regular cleaning of storage tanks and tankers, along with strict water quality testing, was also mandated.
Enhancing Water Management and Innovation
To improve water management, the ‘Jal Sakhi’ initiative will involve self-help groups in billing and maintenance at the local level. Treated water from STPs will be repurposed for irrigation, horticulture, industrial use, and other purposes. The government is also working to ensure that Ganga and its tributaries maintain top water quality within the state’s boundaries.
Critical water sources are being revived under the SARA initiative, and flow measurement of rain-fed rivers will be carried out in collaboration with IIT Roorkee and the National Hydrology Institute. Additionally, the state is promoting climate-resilient agriculture by planting trees on barren lands and introducing carbon credit benefits for farmers.
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Key Officials Present in the Meeting
The meeting was attended by Uttarakhand Infrastructure Monitoring Council Vice President Vishwas Dabar, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Principal Secretaries R.K. Sudhanshu and R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretaries Shailesh Bagoli and Ranveer Singh Chauhan, Special Secretary Parag Madhukar Dhakate, Watershed Project Director Neena Grewal, Additional Secretary Himanshu Khurana, and other officials.
