Bhubaneswar, Jul 5: In a landmark move to ensure safe drinking water across Odisha, the government has announced a comprehensive quality-check initiative, empowering women from Self Help Groups (SHGs) to lead field-level testing in rural areas.

As part of this plan, trained SHG members will use field testing kits to monitor water sources and report contamination risks. These women will receive both technical training and equipment to carry out real-time assessments, marking a major step toward community-driven water safety.

Development Commissioner Anu Garg recently reviewed progress under the state’s mega drinking water supply mission, with a strong emphasis on modernizing operations and enforcing accountability. She stressed the integration of SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems to prevent water misuse and improve remote monitoring of water flow and quality.

Officials have been directed to ensure the delivery of purified water, implement structured operational protocols, and engage modern management practices. Furthermore, stringent instructions have been issued to prevent unauthorized access to water pipelines—no line will be opened without prior approval and verification through the "Call Before You Dig" (CBUD) system.

With SHGs actively participating, this model promotes ownership at the grassroots level, empowering women and improving health outcomes. This decentralized approach brings accountability and efficiency into a system that often struggles with maintenance and oversight.

The rollout also aims to address long-standing issues of water contamination, operational gaps, and unapproved pipeline digging. Through integrated digital systems and community surveillance, Odisha hopes to raise the bar on rural water delivery.

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