Jaipur, March 14: Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has directed officials and district administrations to ensure adequate drinking water supply in every village and town ahead of the summer season, to prevent any shortage for the residents.
During a review meeting at the Chief Minister’s office regarding summer preparations, he emphasized the strict implementation of the state’s Summer Contingency Plan.
The Chief Minister instructed officials to complete the installation of new hand pumps and tube wells, repair old pumps, and fix pipelines and other water-related arrangements before the onset of severe heat. He warned that any negligence in water supply would not be tolerated.
He also directed the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and electricity department officials to collaborate effectively and ensure that all water-related complaints received on the state helpline 181 are resolved within 24 hours.
Additionally, he called for reducing the intervals of water supply in areas currently receiving water every 48, 72, or 96 hours.
Officials reported that a comprehensive emergency plan has been prepared for both rural and urban areas across 41 districts of the state. District collectors presented action plans tailored to their respective regions, including specific strategies for canal areas in Bikaner, desert regions like Jodhpur, tube well-based areas in Dungarpur, and tribal and hilly areas in Udaipur.
The Chief Minister also announced the launch of the ‘Developed Village–Urban Ward’ campaign starting March 19, which will focus on creating master plans for development at the village panchayat and urban ward levels.
He stated that this initiative will prioritize the development of facilities such as education, health, drinking water, electricity, and roads, while also promoting opportunities for small and micro industries in rural and urban areas.
Highlighting environmental conservation, he mentioned that approximately 190 million trees have been planted in the state over the past two years, with a target of planting over 100 million trees this year.
He instructed officials to identify locations for planting and promote the planting of fruit-bearing trees according to local conditions, benefiting agriculture and conserving water.
The meeting was attended by PHED Minister Kanhaiyalal, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sumit Godara, Chief Secretary V. Srinivasan, and several senior officials, with many divisional commissioners and district collectors participating via video conferencing.