Puducherry notifies revised norms for Rural Water Supply, sets timelines for repairs

Rural households in Puducherry are set to come under a more closely monitored drinking-water supply system, with the territorial government introducing time-bound norms for fixing leaks, testing water quality, handling contamination and responding to public complaints.

The revised Operation and Maintenance Policy for rural water supply, notified by the Local Administration Department, seeks to shift the focus from merely creating infrastructure to ensuring that taps, pipelines, overhead tanks and pumping systems deliver safe water reliably over the long term. The policy incorporates provisions under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.

According to an official, “The move is significant for Puducherry, where groundwater remains the main source for water-supply schemes and rural areas face recurring concerns over declining groundwater levels, drought, seawater intrusion, floods and water-quality issues. About 32% of the Union Territory’s population lives in rural areas, making sustained maintenance of local water systems critical.”