Bhubaneswar: The state cabinet, chaired by chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday, approved an Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Policy for drinking water supply in rural areas to ensure uninterrupted supply, adherence to quality standards, preventive maintenance of assets and transparent financial management. After the cabinet meeting, chief secretary Anu Garg said the new policy addresses a long-standing gap in the management of rural drinking water infrastructure. “In the absence of a clear O&M policy earlier, there was no defined mechanism for maintaining the assets created. This policy brings clarity and accountability,” she said. The policy clearly delineates the responsibilities of the rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) wing, district authorities, gram panchayats and village water and sanitation committees, strengthening decentralised governance and community ownership. Calling it a landmark decision, Garg said it reinforces the govt’s commitment to sustainable and reliable drinking water services in rural areas. Over the past few years, Odisha has made significant progress under Jal Jeevan Mission and state initiatives by providing functional household tap connections to rural households. Infrastructure such as single village schemes, solar-based systems and mega piped water supply projects has been created across the state. However, a govt statement noted that infrastructure creation alone is insufficient without sustained operation and maintenance. The newly approved O&M policy introduces structured user charges, dedicated village-level O&M funds, regular water quality testing and digital monitoring through Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (Scada) and Internet of Things (IoT)-based systems. It also proposes a centralised command and control centre for real-time oversight. Safeguards such as preventive maintenance schedules, asset management systems, grievance redressal timelines and disaster preparedness measures have been included to ensure service continuity. The policy, the statement said, safeguards substantial public investment in rural drinking water infrastructure and ensures that “Har Ghar Jal” in Odisha is not only achieved but sustained, without creating any additional permanent financial liability on the state exchequer. The Odisha govt has set a target to achieve 100% rural piped water coverage by March 2027, which is around 77% now. In 2026-27, the govt has allocated Rs 1,495 crore under Basudha, Rs 7,000 crore under Jal Jeevan Mission and another Rs 800 crore under state support for rural piped water supply projects.
