Jal Jeevan Mission in Tamil Nadu Operation and Maintenance Policy of Water Supply Schemes in Tamil Nadu

What the policy does

The Municipal Administration and Water Supply (WS.1) Department issued G.O. (Ms.) No. 26, dated 27 February 2024, after examining a proposal from the Mission Director, Jal Jeevan Mission and Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board. The government approved the annexed Operation and Maintenance Policy of Water Supply Schemes in Tamil Nadu for implementation across all water supply schemes in the state.

The policy was developed following instructions during Jal Jeevan Mission review meetings. Suggestions from the National Jal Jeevan Mission, Water Resources Department and Central Ground Water Board were incorporated, and the State Level Scheme Sanctioning Committee approved the policy before it was submitted to the government.

Schemes and authorities covered

The Operation and Maintenance Policy covers Single Village Schemes and Combined Water Supply Schemes, also described as Multi Village Schemes. Its institutional framework includes:

• Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department.
• Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board.
• Commissionerate and Directorate of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj.
• District administration.
• Village Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees, as identified in the policy abbreviations.

The government circulated the order to Jal Jeevan Mission committees, District Collectors, District Rural Development Agencies, the Director of Municipal Administration and the Director of Town Panchayats, among others.

Key policy areas

The annexed policy addresses:

• Sustainable water sources and recharge structures.
• Provision of Functional Household Tap Connections.
• Water supply quality and priority for water use.
• Disaster risk mitigation and adaptation in water supply systems.
• Maintenance of water supply infrastructure.
• Bulk water measurement through metering and centralised monitoring.
• Damage to water distribution and pumping networks.
• Unauthorised tapping of water.
• Resolution of power supply connection issues.
• Revenue, expenditure, financial sustainability and audit.
• Information, education, communication and capacity building.
• Grievance redressal, contact persons and human resources.

Relevance to residents and property owners

Residents and property owners may be affected where their premises receive, or seek, a Functional Household Tap Connection under a covered water supply scheme. The policy also identifies water quality, supply monitoring, network damage, unauthorised tapping and grievance handling as operational matters. The supplied text does not state any household fee, water rate, application procedure or penalty.