Hazaribag: The district administration will launch a month-long water testing campaign from May 23 to ensure safe drinking water and prevent water-borne diseases. The decision was taken at a review meeting of the Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission chaired by deputy commissioner Hemant Sati on Wednesday, officials said on Thursday.Sati reviewed the status of multi-village schemes, tap water connections, water supply systems and Swachh Bharat projects, and directed officials to ensure effective implementation at the ground level. He also sought details on villages covered under multi-village schemes.Expressing concern over complaints that tap water supply was not reaching households, the DC directed officials of the drinking water and sanitation department to act urgently.He also instructed all Jalsahiyas to carry out large-scale water testing over the next one month as part of the special campaign.Deputy development commissioner Riya Singh said, “Every village has a designated Jalsahiya equipped with a Field Test Kit (FTK). As per norms, Jalsahiyas must test drinking water sources in every household before and after monsoon.”Using FTKs, parameters such as pH, turbidity, fluoride, arsenic, nitrate, chlorine, hardness, alkalinity and iron will be tested to assess water quality and mitigate health risks, officials said. Sati also asked panchayat representatives to monitor tap water supply and directed officials to ensure full coverage of all panchayats.The meeting also assessed repair of damaged hand pumps under the “Neerveer” initiative. He warned that contractors showing poor performance or negligence would be blacklisted.
