SHILLONG, APR 30: PHE Minister Marcuise N Marak on Thursday directed all Deputy Commissioners to convene regular District Water and Sanitation Committee (DWSC) meetings and upload the minutes on the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS), as mandated by the Centre for monitoring Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) schemes.
Speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting with the DCs, Marak said the Government of India has mandated ID generation for all infrastructure.
“The department has already created the ID for out village infrastructure – 1931 IDs have covered for 6772 habitations and 51 IDs for out village infrastructure is still pending,” he said.
For in-village works, he added, “In-village infrastructure is also there for which 1570 IDs have been covered and for that, 2500 habitations have been finalized leaving just 89 IDs in draft level.”
Marak said DCs, as chairmen of DWSCs, will drive ground-level monitoring.
“I had a meeting with all the deputy commissioners and requested their efforts as they are the chairmen of the district water and sanitation committees (DWSCs). They will have to monitor and have meetings and the minutes of the meetings will have to be uploaded on the IMIS based on which the government of India will be able to review and follow up the matters,” he stated.
He said district technical units have also been constituted. “We also made district technical units where any technical issues, the district technical units will identify and report to the deputy commissioners and accordingly deputy commissioners will report back to the state government.”
Asked about the frequency, the Minister said, “Yes we have instructed all DCs to hold regular meetings especially DWSCs because they will have to upload the minutes in the IMIS and based on that minutes, government will be able to see the performances. Every month they will have to do it as every month progress is being monitored.”
He added, “The government of India has mandated the DWSCs to strictly monitory the projects under JJM.”
Addressing complaints of pipes laid but no water supply, Marak said, “Huge infrastructures are being created through JJM. As you have said pipes are already there but what is the reason, this the DWSCs will find out what are the issues. If pipes are there why water is not there.”
“Whether it is a source issue, that also we have instructed the DWSCs to find out what the reason of the source issue or else what is the reason why water not there in the pipes,” he said.
He pointed to gaps in community ownership. “Probably it is not caring, probably caring is already given to the DWSCs but they are reluctant to take over the project, that is the reason why things are not working well. These are the issues which will be looked after the DWSCs and DCs will be monitoring.”
“The DC along with the gram sevaks, those projects which are functional well, the village water and sanitation committees are taking care of the projects and if they are not taking care, how will they be entrusted and how they will be convinced to take ownership of the projects to make it functional for the betterment of the village,” Marak said.
The Minister said the PHE department alone cannot ensure success. “PHE department alone cannot convince the people out there but if DCs and BDOs are involved, state machineries are involved, we will be able to address the issue,” he said.
On the scope of monitoring, he clarified, “Those projects which are undergoing they are also doing the laying of pipes and everything. Other than ongoing projects, those completed projects are also to be monitored.”
Responding to criticism of JJM implementation, Marak said, “That is why people/vlogers are saying JJM is not successful. I am telling everyone of them we will not leave all those projects, we will make sure that functionality is there and for that matter, we will be requesting all the stakeholders to cooperate with the government to make it functional and for the sustainability of the projects.”
