In a proactive move to address drinking water-related concerns, the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) has announced daily public hearings across its regional, circle, and block offices, including the headquarters. This decision follows the directives of Public Health Engineering Minister Kanhaiya Lal Chaudhary.
According to Dr Samit Sharma, Government Secretary of PHED, the daily public hearings will take place from 10 am to 11 am on working days. Senior officers, including Chief Engineers, Additional Chief Engineers, and Superintending Engineers, will be available for public hearings at various offices, ranging from the Jal Bhawan Headquarters to outpost offices. The setup includes Additional Chief Engineers in regional offices, Superintending Engineers in circle offices, Executive Engineers in divisional offices, and Assistant Engineers in sub-divisional offices.
Dr. Sharma highlighted that this approach ensures the timely and efficient resolution of drinking water-related issues faced by the public. Concerned officers will adhere to the stipulated timeframes outlined in the departmental rules and the Public Services Guarantee Act, striving to resolve problems to the satisfaction of the consumers.
To streamline the process, a dedicated register will be maintained for recording complaints and grievances. The data will be transferred to the Sampark portal, and consumers will be informed through appropriate channels. Alongside addressing concerns during public hearings, the department will follow its standard procedures to resolve other public problems and complaints.
This initiative aims to enhance transparency, responsiveness, and accountability in addressing drinking water challenges and improving public service delivery.