Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi on Monday reviewed the implementation of the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Policy-2026 for Rural Water Supply Schemes and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to providing sustainable, efficient and citizen-centric drinking water services in rural areas. He stressed that long-term maintenance, continuous monitoring and strong institutional support are essential to ensure uninterrupted access to safe drinking water.
During the meeting, officials highlighted that the policy promotes a decentralized and community-driven approach to water management. Village Water and Sewerage Committees (VWSCs) will play a key role in planning, monitoring, infrastructure management, grievance redressal, billing and collection of user charges. The Chief Secretary directed all districts to develop model villages showcasing successful implementation of the policy and encouraged active participation of local communities.
The policy also focuses on women’s empowerment and the use of technology to improve transparency and service delivery. Women will have at least 50 percent representation in VWSCs, while Self Help Groups (SHGs) will assist in billing, water quality testing and complaint handling. Citizens will benefit from digital payment options, online grievance redressal systems and a centralized helpline. Financial assistance and incentives for Gram Panchayats have also been introduced to strengthen the operation and maintenance of rural water infrastructure across Haryana.
