Patna: The Bihar Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) has cancelled the leave of all regional officers as the state braces for a potential drinking water crisis during peak summer heat.
In an order issued by department secretary Pankaj Kumar Pal, officials have been instructed to remain on high alert to ensure an uninterrupted supply of drinking water across the state. Leave will now be granted only in cases of “extreme emergency” and will require prior approval from the secretary’s office.
The directive comes amid rising concern over water scarcity in several regions as temperatures climb and demand increases.
Officials have also been asked to take “prompt and necessary” measures to prevent any disruption in supply within their jurisdictions. In areas where groundwater levels have fallen significantly, authorities have been told to arrange alternative sources, including the deployment of water tankers.
The department has emphasised that maintaining continuous access to drinking water is the top operational priority during the ongoing heat conditions.
