Providing safe drinking water top priority: Govt

Patna: Public health engineering department (PHED) secretary Pankaj Kumar Pal on Thursday chaired a review meeting to assess the status of water supply schemes across the state amid the ongoing heatwave. The meeting focused on field survey findings and MIS data related to pipeline repairs, hand pump functionality, tanker services and technical maintenance in various districts.Pal reviewed reports from divisions including Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur and Motipur, and directed officials to take immediate corrective measures to address technical shortcomings. He stressed that ensuring safe drinking water, in line with govt standards, remains the department’s top priority.The PHED issued warnings to executive engineers of divisions facing persistent water supply problems, stating that responsibility would be fixed at all levels. Administrative steps include appointing circle-level nodal officers and debarring negligent agencies.Pal also instituted a daily review mechanism, with Motipur, Samastipur, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Hajipur scheduled for the next review. All officials were instructed to submit regular progress reports to the department headquarters.