Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 02 November 2023
The Himalayan Institute of Hospital Trust (HIHT), a subsidiary organization of Swami Ram Himalayan University, Uttarakhand, played host to a three-day Residential Training Program focusing on the Operation and Maintenance of Water Supply Schemes, Utility Management, and Tariff Collection Approach. The event, organized under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), was conducted from October 30 to November 1, 2023, in Port Blair. This training program was designated as Level-2 training for mid-management officials, targeting various aspects of water supply in rural areas under JJM. Notably, the program was fully funded by the National Jal Jeevan Mission, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.
A total of 51 engineers from the Andaman and Nicobar Public Works Department (APWD) and the Department of Rural Development participated in the training program, reflecting the island’s commitment to water resource management.
The inauguration of the training program took place with Mr. S. Thej Bahadur, Chief Engineer of APWD, who emphasized the need for optimizing the operation and maintenance of water supply infrastructure and achieving higher revenue collection by adopting best practices and innovations from various states. He encouraged participants to learn from the experiences of resource persons during the training.
Mr. H.P Unniyal, former Chief General Manager of the Jal Sansadhan Vibhag and Member of the Planning Commission in Uttarakhand, who currently serves as an Advisor for the training program, highlighted the importance of grassroots interaction between states and institutions with expertise in water supply and resource management. He underscored the significance of such training programs organized by empaneled Knowledge Resource Centers (KRC) of NJJM, DDWS, MoJS.
Throughout the program, resource persons from the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department of HIHT offered insights into different aspects of Operation and Maintenance of Water Supply Schemes, Utilization of Water Resources Infrastructure, and Revenue Collection Mechanisms employed in different states.
Mr. HP Uniyal, Advisor of Water and Sanitation (WATSON), discussed the potential of water sources in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and methods for their augmentation, exploration, and conservation to ensure sustainable water supply. He emphasized the need for innovative management of water supply infrastructure using the latest technology and encouraged the fusion of technology, information technology, and personal dedication to enhance operational efficiency.
The training program also highlighted the importance of greater participation of Panchayats in water supply management for long-term drinking water security and community well-being. It was suggested that Panchayats could consider adopting successful models from other states to improve their management practices.
Mr. Nitish Kaushik, KRC Nodal In-charge, explained the use of various digital platforms and innovative technology for monitoring drinking water supply operations, quality control, community awareness, and public participation. Scientist Mr. Atul Uniyal shared insights into integrated water resource management under the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ scheme and offered solutions to problems faced during the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission Scheme.
The Training Manager, Ms. Geeta Kandpal, delved into planning, operation, maintenance, and various tools for public relations management.
In addition to the indoor sessions, a field visit was organized for all participants to the Water Treatment Plant and nearby villages, where they learned about the operation and maintenance mechanisms and explored the possibility of adopting new technology for improved operation. Participants also visited a potential groundwater site in Beodnabad to understand groundwater exploration and recharge structures.
The event reached its culmination with a courtesy call to Admiral D K Joshi, Honourable Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Vice Chairman of the Islands Development Agency, where a book authored by Swami Ram Ji, the founder of HIHT, was presented. The HIHT resource team also met the Chief Secretary of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, Shri Keshav Chandra, IAS, to discuss various aspects of the training program and the potential for future cooperation in water resource management in the Union Territory.