PS: For Online PublicationBengaluru: Amid fears of water-borne diseases looming large during the monsoon season, the state government has issued a stringent warning to safeguard drinking water, ordering panchayats to treat water safety as an urgent, non-negotiable public responsibility and ensure the quality of potable water supplied to rural areas.Reviewing the department’s preparedness to handle the monsoon months, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B. Khandre cautioned officials that even a single lapse leading to contamination cannot be tolerated. He pointed out that incidents of deaths linked to contaminated water reported in several regions underline the urgency of systemic reform and stricter enforcement.Directing that all water samples be mandatorily and regularly tested in NABL-accredited laboratories, Khandre said, “Multi-level inspections of rural water supply systems will ensure the prevention of unsafe water from entering the public distribution network, especially during the monsoon season when rivers, tanks, and groundwater sources are vulnerable to contamination.”Highlighting the gravity of the issue and directing officials to ensure that no river, lake, or pond is allowed to become a conduit for contamination, the minister said, “All civilisations were born on riverbanks. Water is life. It is impossible to live without water.” He also instructed officials to take immediate steps to clear encroachments on tanks under departmental control and to prevent the direct discharge of sewage and industrial effluents into water bodies, which often worsen pollution levels during heavy rains.Khandre further emphasised long-term planning for sustainable water security, noting that measures are already being taken to ensure surface water supply for the next 30 years. In this context, he directed that all rural water sources be protected from pollution and degradation.Geo-tagging of all assetsReferring to e-Swathu server issues, which have long been delaying account creation for applicants, the minister called for swift technical intervention to restore efficiency in service delivery. He said that all assets created under the Rural Development Department and the Rural Infrastructure Development Corporation must be geo-tagged to ensure transparency and prevent loss or misuse of public infrastructure, while stressing that all assets must meet strict quality standards without compromise.Reviewing the condition of social forestry plantations developed under MGNREGA support, Khandre directed officials to geo-tag these plantations and undertake audits, particularly of roadside plantations and groves, to monitor the survival of saplings.
