Bhubaneswar: The Department of Water Resources, Odisha is all set to observe Annual Pani Panchayat Pakhya in the State during 1st-15th February, 2023 to acknowledge the importance of Pani Panchayats in water governance, participatory irrigation management and ensuring equity at the grassroot level.
This year the Pakhya will be observed at three levels i.e., Division, District and State on 1st February, 8th February, 2023 and 15th February, 2023 respectively. Raths carrying messages on importance of Pani Panchayats will be flagged off my Hon’ble Ministers, in presence of local MLAs, eminent persons on 1st February. The Pakhya, that could not unfortunately be held in last two years due to Covid.
Various activities such as debate, essay, painting and quiz competitions amongst school children; exhibitions; Pani Panchayat Samabesha; Information Education Communication, Social Behavioural Change Communication (IEC/SBCC) activities through exhibitions and Rath etc. will be carried out.
Banners, brochures, logo, slogan, tagline, anthem, oath etc. have also been prepared to create the buzz. Similarly Jala Prabharis have also been tasked to monitor activities in districts assigned to them.
Department of Water Resources, Odisha has been engaged in sustainable development and management of water resources in the state over the years. The 5T drive of the State offers further opportunities to set new goals like online grievances redressal; online payment of wages to construction labourers; real time flood forecasting system; online tracking of water allocation to industrial and other commercial establishments, effective monitoring through ERP solutions; ground water mapping, water conservation; collaborating with knowledge partners etc.
In the Command Area Development (CAD) sector a number of reformative measures have been taken keeping the tail end in mind. They are: Legislative measures such as Amendment to the Pani Panchayat Act including spouses of water users as members and formation of Pani Panchayats under Mega Lift projects; IT Initiatives such as e-CAD for real time tracking of activities of Pani Panchayats; formation of more than 14,000 Pani Panchayats in recent past; adoption of technology such as underground piped water; capacity building of Pani Panchayats and functionaries.
Taking the spirit forward, Annual Pani Panchayat Pakhya is going to be observed in the State by DoWR in February with involvement of all the stakeholders through participatory approach.
