The Success Story of Jharkhand on Optimum Utilization of Water
(Sudhir Prasad & Kallol Saha)i
Jharkhand, the new state in the Eastern corner of India was created in the year 2000. Jharkhand is one of
the least-urbanized states in India with a population of 32 million. Its rural population (75%) is spread
across 24 districts. Last Panchayet election took place in the state in a gap of 32 years crating an
absolute shortage of village institutions for program planning and delivery. Alienation from mainstream
and development process led to social unrest. More than 53% of households and 75% of the districts
influence by LWE activity.
The state is aided with good forest cover (22%) and rainfall (1200 MM). But Undulating topography and
underlain crystalline hard rock offers little porosity and Permeability for rainfall to stay. Due to paucity of
surface sources and shallow aquifer, drinking water supply in present times primarily depends on Ground
Water. As on 1st April, 2012 29615 villages in the state share a network of 379807 Hand pumps 1. Pipe
Water Supply and sanitation coverage in rural areas are around 7% and 11 % respectively 2. Government
of Jharkhand spends over Rupees 150 Crores annually to provide water supply to its rural population.
1
State Data as per MDWS Website and internal report of Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, Government
of Jharkhand
2
Census Date 20111
Still a number of the rural water supply schemes are constrained either by limited quantity of the water
available and / or quality of the available water.
While Jharkhand is one of the least urbanized states in the country, In last 10 years 11 blocks of the state
were categorized as Semi critical to Over exploited by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) due to rapid
urbanization and Industrial exploitation of Ground Water.
OPTIMUM UTILIZATION OF WATER IN JHARKHAND: ISSUES AND CONCERN FOR RURAL
JHARKHAND
We, the people of Jharkhand are cursed by blessing of Nature. There is high precipitation that goes into
waste. And there are hilly habitations occupied by Primitive Tribes that are literally running out of Water.
So statistically speaking it’s normalized with large errors at either side. Or shall we say it’s naturally
optimized. Either way, the key issues in front of the State in context of optimal utilization of Water are;
1. Ensuring Uninterrupted Drinking Water Supply to rural households as per the norms fixed by
National Rural Drinking Water Program (NRDWP). NRDWP propose to ensure 70 Liter Per
Capita per Day (LPCD) of Water.
2. Assuring sustainable and on demand water supply to rural habitation to ensure Individual and
Institutional Sanitation requirement including environmental Sanitation. The supply should be
adequate enough to maintain acceptable level of Hygiene and safety standards.
Further the above challenges are to be met without compromising with fundamental principles of Source
and System Sustainability in physical and financial terms.
JHARKHAND STATE WATER AND SANITATION MISSION; MISSION AND OBJECTIVE FOR
OPTIMIZED WASH SOLUTION
At Jharkhand State Water and Sanitation Mission (JSWSM) we aim to enhance Rural Pipe Water Supply
and Sustainable Sanitation solution reaching at least 45% and 80% of the rural household by the end of
12th Five year plan period (2017) respectively through community involvement in planning and
implementation of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program.
OUR EFFORTS IN OPTIMIZATION: APPROACH & TACTICAL INTERVENTIONS
A long standing proverb in Management goes like this, “You cannot manage what you cannot
measure”. Since 2011, once the Panchayeti Raj election took place in the State we have taken a
conscious decision to ensure taking up issues of scheme sustainability and optimization in centre stage of
Rural Water Supply Program in a measured manner.
1. Our first observation in context of Jharkhand Villages was that there is neither any individual nor any
institution that formally deals with the Water issues and extends door step solution of water worries
regularly faced by village commune.
A. Within a period of 2 years, we have been able to facilitate 27957 Village Water and Sanitation
Committee (VWSC) as a mandated body of Panchayet to address WASH issues in their own
village. 25882VWSC having their own Savings account.
B. A lady service provider entitled ‘Jal Sahiya’ is designated as treasurer of the committee and
works as Nodal person in the village. She is entitled to take up water audit as part of baseline
survey and facilitates demand generation for WASH schemes.
2. Secondly, before 2010 responsibility of Water supply in rural areas was mostly with DWSD. Lack of
manpower and procedural delay left most of the schemes underutilized. Minimal investment in
Operation and Maintenance left infrastructure in a bad shape.
A. A conscious decision was made to transfer Operation and Maintenance of in village Water facility
to VWSC (Single Village Schemes). For multi-village schemes VWSC maintains the infrastructure
for their own village.
B. A sensitive yet functional Pricing Policy with minimum connection charge of Rs. 318 and monthly
tax of Rs. 62 for Piped Water Supply schemes managed by VWSC were brought in. Use of Stand
post was discouraged in RPWS.
C. To encourage community participation VWSC managed schemes are provided with equal amount
of matching grant from Government as incentive to the amount collected by them as water tax
every year for O &M.
D. To encourage appropriate utilization of Energy, charge of these schemes is reduced to 1/4th from
Rs. 4.40/- to 1.10/- per unit. Single village schemes in distant villages were conceived with solar
energy facility minimizing use of generators.
As we understand these initiatives helped a part of rural commune of the state, predominantly living
below poverty line to appreciate Water as a valuable commodity and judiciously use the resources in
more than 300 Rural Pipe Water supply schemes in the state.
ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM AND PROCE OPTIMIZATION INITIATIVE FOR ENHANCED
PARTICIPATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Consequent to above changes, and post Panchayet election there was a necessity to reengineer the
process of project planning and execution with community taking a lead to plan, implement and regulate
Water use efficiently in their villages. This was done by bring in suitable policy notifications in terms of
Fund, Function and Functionary as per the provisions made in the Constitution Article No-243 (G.), and
in Jharkhand Panchayati Raj Act 2001 Clause -75, 76 and 77.
For enactment of these provisions transfer of power by Drinking Water and Sanitation Department is
essential. In the light of the said provisions delegation of power to Three Tier Panchayati Raj Institution to
undertake the following works is transferred with effect from 10.06.2013:A. Power of ZillaParishad, Panchayat Samiti and Village Panchayat to grant administrative approval
were sanctioned as under;
Serial
No
1
2
3
4
Amount
Technical Sanction
Administrative Approval
From Rs.0.00 to Rs. 10.00
Lakh
From Rs. 10.00 to Rs.
25.00 Lakh
From Rs. 25 Lakh to Rs. 40
lakh
From Rs.40 Lakh to Rs.
100 Lakh
Assistant Engineer
VWSC through Gram Panchayat
Mukhia as president
VWSC through Gram Panchayat
Mukhia as president
Panchayat Samiti
Executive Engineer
Executive Engineer
Superintending
Engineer
ZillaParishad
For Rural Water Supply/ Sanitation work depending on the volume of Investment, District Water and
Sanitation Mission shall directly transfer the amount to the Village Panchayet Account.
B. Gram Panchayet, Panchayet Samiti and Zilla parishad shall prepare work plan to ensure supply of
clean drinking water and arrange to construct wells, tube wells through various schemes in their
respective jurisdictions.
Gram Panchayet acting through VWSC shall select location for Rural Water Supply/Sanitation
Schemes and take measure for controlling pollution of water and environment and collection of predetermined amount on similar Ground.
Panchayat Samiti shall prepare the scheme beyond single village and monitor implementation of
Single village scheme and supervise works for Tube well check dam, well and water shed program.
Zilla Parishad shall prepare scheme for Establishment and maintenance of Big Rural Pipe water
schemes covering more than one Panchayet Samiti.
C. Executive Engineer, Assistant Engineer/ Junior Engineer and Tube Well Mechanic, Plumber, Pump
Operator etc personnel on job contract and casual labour shall report respectively to Zilla Parishad,
Panchayet Samiti and Gram Panchayet for their functioning and execution of Duties. Concerned PRI
offices are entitled to take disciplinary action against the said officials.
RESULTS OBTAINED: SELECT CASES OF BEST PRACTICES ADOPTED BY RURAL PIPE WATER
SUPPLY SCHEMES IN JHARKHAND
At Jharkhand State Water and Sanitation Mission we are undergoing a change process. The changes can
be simply metered by enhanced participation of Villagers and Panchayet representative in any
Departmental program and WASH function and vice versa. Through involvement of qualified agency and
human resource, targeted and client specific IEC have helped faster adoption of above principles in
Practice.
Today there are more than 70 schemes that are being run and operated by VWSCs in an optimal manner
with VWSC investing or finding way for conjoint solutions. Around 100 villages are in the way turned into
sustainable Open Defecation Free Villages by linking it with measured Water supply provisions. A list of
20 top Rural Pipe Water Supply schemes in the State with salient features is given below;
SN.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Name of the Village
ShivalbariUttar
Shivalbari Dakshin
Shivalbari East,
Shivalbari Central
Agayarkund South
Agayarkund Uttar
Medha
Vrindavanpur
Jaynagar
Sarai Kella
Charadih
Bero
Nuamundi (Bazar
Samity)
Mahudi
Household
connections
450
196
455
230
395
196
322
120
500
142
213
207
192
User water charge collection in Rupees
270
2,65,000
179,640
123,743
387,789
134,451
256,772
143,000
142,413
35,000
100,000
123,350
238,540
70,000
10, 00,000
15
16
17
18
19
20
Khijri
MandarTigoe
Barasi
Meru
Rasonia
Kalubira, Simdega
200
180
138
120
188
140
112,506
40,000
60,000
160,000
202,000
60,000
Below we narrate a few exemplary case of turning under supply and over supply to standardized supply
and utilization through conscious community participation.
CASE LETS FOR RURAL PIPE WATER SUPPLY SCHEMES MANAGED BY USER GROUPS (VWSC)
Baliapur Rural Pipe Water Supply Schemes covers 3 Gram Panchayets in Dhanbad District. The
schemes are being operated by VWSC since 2011. Individual users pay a fee of Rs. 170 per month. The
committee allows use of stand post for households who cannot afford to pay individual tariff. Such
households pay a token charge of Rupees 1 per Day for Water Withdrawal. Present total collection of the
user society is Rs. 4, 00000 Lakh. They have stopped utilizing non functional stand post and collect 1
Rupees per Day per family. Present net savings of the user Group is Rs. 4 Lakh
Mahudi Water supply schemes are situated in far flank of Saranda Forest in West Singhbhum District.
The scheme was started in 2003. When VWSC took charge in 2010, there were only 98 connections with
supply stoppage over 100 days a year. Presently they are supplying water to more than 300 Households.
They collect one time connection fee of Rs 318 and Monthly fee of Rs 100 from all users. Through this
amount they have created 2 additional sources and extend water supply to 4 additional Habitations in last
two years.
Bhandara Rural Pipe Water Supply scheme is situated in the bank of Koel River at a distance of 65 KM
from state capital in the southern corner of Lohardaga District. Established in 2009, the VWSC owned
Water supply have generated around Rs 68000 Rupees through Water connection and taxation. The
scheme is lifeline to 250 households More than 80% of whom belong to socio economically
disadvantaged section.
Ghaghra Rural Pipe Water Supply scheme situated at a distance of 80 KM from Ranchi city draws water
from an intake well developed in the bank of Annya River. Since June 2013 VWSC took charge of Water
supply and started a drive for new water connection. In a window of 4 months’ time they received
demand for around new 100 connections. They are presently generating revenue of Rs. 5000/- per month
which takes care of minor repair, O & M and electricity cost.
LEARNING AND WAY FORWARD
At Jharkhand we look forward to community ownership of Water Sources and assets. Over the time it has
been proved that with sensitivity care and capacity building users are the best manager of resources. In
Jharkhand they have started shaking the root of the falls Hypothesis (Myth!) that ‘Poors Don’t Pay’. In the
state we shall strategically look forward to create more Pipe Water supply schemes based upon surface
water bodies, VWSC managed Operation and Maintenance and investment on Rain Water harvesting as
to ensure optimum use of Water and Sustainability of Water supply schemes at scale forever.
i
Shri Sudhir Prasad is Development Commissioner, Government of Jharkhand and a Mechanical Engineer from IIT,
Kanpur with keen interest in WASH issues; Shri Kallol Saha is a Development Practitioner and Consultant to
Jharkhand State Water and Sanitation Mission and an alumnus of Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA)
specializing in WASH, NRM, Hydrogeology and Cartographic Sciences.