Bihar Launches Comprehensive Plan to Prevent Summer Water Crisis

The state government has started finalizing preparations to deal with the possible water crisis during the upcoming summer season. A comprehensive action plan has been prepared in this regard by the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED).

According to Minister Neeraj Kumar Singh, a special campaign is being run for the repair and maintenance of hand pumps. In the panchayats where the groundwater level has gone down, arrangements are being made to keep the hand pumps functional by increasing the riser pipe.

Minister Neeraj Singh informed that advance approval has been given for the construction of a total of 1520 new hand pumps for the current financial year 2025-26. Also, as per the target set for the repair of hand pumps, the work of repairing a total of 1,20,749 hand pumps has been started across the state. The report of repair of all hand pumps is being recorded on the online portal and geo-tagged photographs and social authentication are also being obtained.

To deal with the challenge of drinking water supply in summer, Public Health Engineering Minister Neeraj Kumar Singh has given comprehensive guidelines to the officials. First of all, he has instructed to get the non-functional hand pumps repaired immediately and to supply water through tankers in addition to 'Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal' structures in water-scarce areas. Hand pumps are being repaired on priority basis in public places, schools and Mahadalit hamlets. Also, in view of the possible fall in groundwater level, the status of water sources is being assessed on a daily basis at the Panchayat level.

In areas where water supply schemes are affected due to excessive fall in groundwater level, water supply is being ensured through tankers. A route chart for water distribution to water-scarce Panchayats has been prepared on priority basis, so that there is no shortage of drinking water in any village or hamlet. The entire system is also being monitored through the control room at the district level. Along with this, a special campaign is being run at the department level regarding water quality. Under this, those water sources are being marked in red colour in which the amount of arsenic, fluoride or iron has been found to be more than the permissible limit. Also, the work of connecting schools and Anganwadi centers under the "Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal" scheme has also been expedited. Apart from this, the department has taken initiative to provide adequate water to animals in the summer season. A total of 261 cattle troughs have been constructed in the state and their physical verification is also being done to ensure their functionality.

The Principal Secretary of the Department, Pankaj Kumar, has also held a meeting with all the regional executive engineers recently on the preparations to deal with the problem of drinking water arising due to the possible fall in the groundwater level in the drought-affected areas of the state during the summer season.