Agartala, 7th August 2026: In a significant step towards ensuring sustainable and uninterrupted rural drinking water services under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Tripura Government has introduced its first-ever Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Policy. The initiative aims to strengthen the long-term management of rural water supply systems while enabling quicker resolution of minor technical issues at the local level.
Under the new policy, Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) formed in every Gram Panchayat and ADC Village will be responsible for routine maintenance of water supply infrastructure. Their responsibilities include repairing minor pipeline leakages, maintaining taps and valves, operating water pumps, carrying out regular cleaning, and addressing other day-to-day maintenance requirements. The move is expected to ensure faster response to local problems and improve service delivery.
Major infrastructure such as water treatment plants, iron removal plants, innovative water supply projects, and large-scale maintenance works will continue to remain under the supervision of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DWS) under the Public Works framework. In the event of any major technical issue, the department will intervene promptly to restore services.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the government will collect user charges from water consumers as per prescribed norms. The collected funds will be utilized for electricity bills, operation, and maintenance of the respective water supply schemes, helping maintain uninterrupted drinking water services in rural areas.
Speaking on the initiative, Debabrata Tripura, Officer-in-Charge of the Sabroom DWS Sub-Division, said the O&M Policy has been implemented exclusively in Gram Panchayat and ADC Village areas, while Urban Panchayats are not covered under the scheme.
He informed that the Sabroom Sub-Division comprises three RD Blocks and one TTAADC Sub-Division Zonal Office. The policy currently covers 39 Gram Panchayats under Satchand RD Block, 18 ADC Villages under Rupaichhari RD Block, and four Gram Panchayats along with three ADC Villages under Poangbari RD Block, bringing a total of 64 local bodies under the new system.
Debabrata Tripura expressed confidence that the policy would encourage greater community participation, improve transparency and accountability, enhance service efficiency, and make the rural drinking water supply system more robust and sustainable in the long run.
