Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has directed officials and district collectors to ensure that people do not face any drinking water shortage during the upcoming summer season. To achieve this, the state government has prepared a comprehensive summer contingency plan aimed at ensuring effective monitoring and water management in every village and town across the state.
The Chief Minister issued these instructions during a meeting held at the Chief Minister’s Office on Saturday, where officials reviewed preparations for the summer months.
Focus on Strengthening Water Infrastructure
During the meeting, CM Sharma emphasized the need for uninterrupted drinking water supply throughout the summer. He instructed officials to take immediate steps such as:
Installing new hand pumps and tube wells
Repairing existing hand pumps and tube wells
Fixing and strengthening water pipelines
Completing all maintenance and infrastructure work before peak summer
He stressed that these tasks must be completed within the stipulated time frame and that no negligence will be tolerated in ensuring water availability for the public.
Quick Resolution of Water Complaints
The Chief Minister also highlighted the importance of efficient coordination between the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and the electricity department to maintain smooth water supply systems.
He directed officials to ensure that all drinking water complaints received on the helpline number 181 are resolved within 24 hours.
Additionally, efforts should be made to reduce the gap in water supply cycles, especially in areas where water is currently supplied every 48, 72, or 96 hours, to provide more frequent access to drinking water.
Contingency Plans Prepared for All Districts
Officials informed the Chief Minister that contingency plans have already been prepared for both rural and urban areas across all 41 districts of Rajasthan.
District collectors presented specific strategies tailored to their regions, including:
Bikaner: Plans for canal command areas
Jodhpur: Water supply management in desert districts
Dungarpur: Tube well-based drinking water systems
Udaipur: Water supply strategies for tribal and hilly regions
These plans aim to address region-specific challenges and ensure effective water distribution.
‘Developed Village–Urban Ward Campaign’ to Begin on March 19
CM Sharma also announced that the “Viksit Gram–Urban Ward Campaign” will be launched on March 19, coinciding with Rajasthan Day celebrations.
The campaign aims to prepare a development master plan for every Gram Panchayat and urban ward in the state. According to the Chief Minister, developed villages are the foundation of a developed Rajasthan and a developed India.
Through this initiative, development plans will be designed based on local aspirations and needs, ensuring that the roadmap for progress reaches even the most remote villages.
Identifying Local Industries for Economic Growth
As part of the campaign, the government will also identify small and local industries in rural and urban areas.
The objective is to explore opportunities related to production, processing, and value-added businesses, thereby strengthening the local economy and generating employment.
CM Sharma stated that the government intends to implement planned development across villages and urban wards, with priority given to essential services such as:
Education
Healthcare
Drinking water
Electricity
Roads and infrastructure
Tree Plantation and Environmental Sustainability
The Chief Minister also emphasized the importance of environmental conservation and tree plantation.
He noted that the state has planted around 19 crore saplings over the past two years, and the government has set a target to plant more than 10 crore trees this year.
Officials were instructed to ensure:
Timely preparation and distribution of saplings from nurseries
Tree plantation in all government offices
Proper maintenance and protection of planted trees
He also recommended planting fruit-bearing trees based on local environmental conditions, as they help increase agricultural productivity while also contributing to water conservation.
Senior Officials Present in the Meeting
The meeting was attended by Public Health Engineering Minister Kanhaiya Lal, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sumit Godara, Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, and other senior officials.
Forest and Environment Minister (Independent Charge) Sanjay Sharma, along with divisional commissioners and district collectors, joined the meeting via video conference.
