Banka/Patna: After 77 years of independence, a new era has dawned upon Gauripur village in Banka district’s Domuhan Panchayat. In a remarkable feat, the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) has liberated the village from its long-standing drinking water crisis, installing three hand pumps and establishing a piped water supply to all 210 households within just 15 days under the “Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal Nishchay Yojana.”
For generations, the women of Gauripur endured the arduous task of digging sand from rivers and collecting water from “Chuari” (shallow pits) for daily needs. The community also relied on a few ancient wells. Despite being only 12 kilometers from the Banka district headquarters, the village had remained untouched by modern water infrastructure until now. The PHED swiftly acted upon receiving information about the village’s plight through the Banka District Magistrate.
“Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal” Brings Pure Water to Every Home
Under the visionary “Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal” Nishchay Yojana championed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, over 1,000 residents in Gauripur’s 210 homes now receive pure drinking water directly through pipelines. The installation of three additional hand pumps near the settlement provides a crucial backup, ensuring water access even during power outages. This initiative has completely freed the village women from their traditional struggles, prompting residents to present a public thank-you memorandum to the department.
Government’s Commitment to Clean Water
Minister of Public Health Engineering Department, Neeraj Kumar Singh, lauded the achievement, stating, “Under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the state government is committed to providing clean drinking water to all rural families. The department’s priority is prompt action on any drinking water-related complaint to ensure pure drinking water reaches every household. The work done in record time in Gauripur village is an example of this commitment.”
The “Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal” Yojana aims to provide clean drinking water to every citizen of Bihar without discrimination, having already supplied home water connections to over 1.75 crore households statewide. The department has also established a comprehensive complaint redressal system, allowing citizens to register water supply issues via toll-free numbers (1800-123-1121 / 1800-345-1121 / 155367), WhatsApp (8544429024 / 8544429082), or the ‘Swachh Neer’ mobile app.
