Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh)— Haryana Public Health Engineering and Public Works Minister Ranbir Gangwa has placed the state’s public health department on high alert to handle the rising summer drinking water crisis. To ensure uninterrupted clean water supply during this critical season, the minister directed all state officials to remain in the field and announced the cancellation of leaves for all department employees across the state.
Chairing a comprehensive circle-wise review meeting alongside Chief Engineer Devender Dahima and field officials, Minister Gangwa warned that the next month remains the most challenging for water distribution. He explicitly directed executive engineers, sub-divisional officers, and junior engineers to stay stationed at their respective headquarters, increase daily spot visits to municipal and rural zones, and respond swiftly to public complaints rather than running administrative affairs from offices.
Taking a stringent stance against official negligence, the minister ordered the immediate suspension of two Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) and two Junior Engineers (JEs) deployed in the Charkhi Dadri and Hansi sectors. This swift disciplinary action followed public protests over unresolved water crises in villages like Chanaut. Additionally, two other officials from the Adampur waterworks station were charge-sheeted after a probe revealed acute mismanagement, lack of maintenance, and dilapidated conditions at the water pumping facility.
Minister Gangwa emphasized that the state administration is functioning in a mission mode to implement the prime minister’s “Har Ghar Nal Se Jal” initiative. To sustain water levels at boosting stations in low groundwater areas, public health teams must establish a weekly coordination protocol with the irrigation department to manage canal water rotation. Furthermore, local authorities have been instructed to launch massive inspection drives to issue legal notices against water wastage and leakages, alongside intensifying regular water quality sampling to prevent the outbreak of seasonal water-borne diseases.
