C.R. Paatil Introduces Unique Digital IDs for Rural Water Supply Mapping
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, March 13 (NationPress) The Union Minister for Jal Shakti, C.R. Paatil, unveiled the Sujal Gaon ID on Friday, a unique digital identifier designed for the comprehensive mapping of rural piped water supply systems.
This initiative was announced during a meeting with the Ministers from the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Rural Water Supply (RWS), and the Panchayati Raj Departments of various States and Union Territories, where they discussed the implementation strategy for Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, as per an official statement.
For the first time in India, each rural drinking water scheme will receive a distinct digital identity, integrating the rural water supply into a national framework, Paatil noted.
To date, a total of 1.64 lakh Sujal Gaon IDs have been established across 31 States and Union Territories, associated with 67,000 Sujalam Bharat IDs.
Paatil previously urged State governments to ensure prompt scheme completion and enhance monitoring efforts on the ground.
As water management falls under state jurisdiction, Paatil emphasized that the success of this mission relies heavily on the accountability of State Governments to provide consistent tap water to rural households.
Attending the meeting was V. Somanna, Minister of State at the Ministry of Jal Shakti, who pointed out that delays in certain States were due to technical issues. He also stressed that any costs incurred from oversized or technically non-compliant projects must be covered by the respective State Governments, as public funds should be utilized with utmost diligence and responsibility.
He underscored the necessity of strict compliance with approved technical specifications, budget limits, and appropriate source assessments to ensure the long-term viability of rural water supply systems.
According to an official statement, each Sujalam Bharat ID amalgamates the scheme’s infrastructure ID with the service area ID, thus creating a thorough digital record of rural water service delivery.
This initiative represents a major digital transformation, a pivotal step that promotes transparency, enhances monitoring, and contributes to the vision of a technologically empowered Viksit Bharat by 2047.