Ensure water supply, boost sanitation drives: UDHD

Ranchi: The Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD) on Friday directed all urban local bodies in Jharkhand to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply during the summer season and intensify sanitation and waste management efforts across cities.The directions were issued during a review meeting of urban bodies and JUIDCO projects chaired by UDHD principal secretary Sunil Kumar in Ranchi.Officials were asked to identify areas still left out of piped water supply coverage and prepare proposals for expansion of water towers and water sources. Urban bodies were also instructed to repair defunct hand pumps and closely monitor drinking water schemes during the peak summer months.Reviewing civic infrastructure, the department asked municipal bodies without bus stands to submit proposals for new facilities. Cities requiring renovation of existing bus stands or inter-state bus terminals (ISBTs) were also directed to send detailed plans. Proposals for road widening, multipurpose halls and community buildings were also sought as part of broader urban infrastructure planning.On sanitation, the department directed urban bodies to strengthen door-to-door garbage collection and monitor transportation of waste to dumping yards. Officials were instructed to ensure proper segregation of waste and take action against agencies failing to perform satisfactorily.Sunil Kumar said urban local bodies should improve revenue collection through holding tax and user charges to become financially sustainable. "Public and private institutions that are not paying holding tax should be identified and coordinated with to improve recovery," he said.The department also directed officials to take action, including debarment and termination, against agencies failing to properly execute drinking water and other civic infrastructure projects.The review underscored the department's focus on summer preparedness, civic service delivery and stronger accountability in urban governance, with emphasis on both immediate public needs and long-term infrastructure improvement across Jharkhand's towns and cities.