This State has a Single ministry & department for rural water supply, urban water supply & Sewerage, and Sanitation services. The Department of Drinking Water (DDW), Govt. of Uttarakhand has three main institutions: Uttarakhand Peyjal Nigam (UJN), Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan (UJS), and Program Management Unit (PMU)- Swajal Project. Apart from this there is an umbrella body called State Water & Sanitation Mission (SWSM). Both UJN and UJS are autonomous bodies whereas PMU- Swajal is a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. UJN is primarily engaged in construction of drinking water schemes in rural and urban areas and sewerage schemes in urban areas, whereas UJS is primarily carrying out functions of O&M of these schemes handed to them by the UJN. Both these organizations are also implementing World Bank assisted Uttarakhand Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Project (URWSSP) since 2006. The Swajal Project implements World Bank assisted Uttarakhand Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Project (URWSSP) & GoI-funded Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA) & Capacity Building Component of National Rural Drinking Water Programme.
As part of its decentralization commitment, the state government has decided to devolve the water and sanitation sector funds, functions, and functionaries and strengthen the three-tier Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) system.
At the state level, the SWSM, with the support of the SWSM Secretariat, implements the URWSSP & NRDWP following demand-responsive approaches. It ensures adequate financial provisions and oversee the implementation of the sector program.
At the district level, the District Water & Sanitation Mission (DWSM) with the support of the District Project Management Unit (DPMU) is responsible for the implementation of the URWSSP, NRDWP & NBA program.
At the village level, the GP and the user committees is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining the schemes.
STATE LEVEL
Department of Drinking Water: DDW is the nodal agency for the RWSS by coordinating with the sector stakeholders, including UJN, UJS, PMU, and other sector ministries.
State Water and Sanitation Mission: SWSM is the highest policy-making body in the sector. Functions include:- (i) oversee, disseminate, and monitor the implementation of policy decisions undertaken by SWSM; (ii) compile, review, and approve the annual plan and budget allocation for the sector for monitoring (iii) appraise and approve high-cost Multi Village Schemes (MVSs) that are beyond the prescribed limit of DWSM;
Program Management Unit: The PMU / Swajal Directorate, assisted by the DPMUs, Functions of the PMU include: (i) coordinate and implement the new capital investments for Single Village Schemes (SVSs); and (ii) undertake IEC campaigns and the capacity-building activities;
Uttarakhand Peyjal Nigam and Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan: The functions of UJN and UJS, along with their district agencies include: (i) plan, construct, (other than for intra-village investments) operate, and maintain the MVS according to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and (ii) provide technical support to the PRIs and the User Water & Sanitation Sub Committee (UWSSC) for SVS, if desired by the latter;
AT DISTRICT LEVEL:
District Water and Sanitation Mission: DWSM headed by Zilla Panchayat, is established in each of the 13 districts and reports to the SWSM. DWSM functions: (i) Selection of habitations; approval of annual budget; review of program and dispute resolution and (ii) Appraisal and approval of proposals up to INR 50.00 Lakhs and recommendations exceeding INR 50.00 Lakhs to SWSM and GoUK.
District Water and Sanitation Committee: DWSC headed by Chief Development Officer and other district level officers of related departments. Functions: (i) Selection of Support Organizations for community mobilization; (ii) Review and approval of schemes proposed by GP & UWSSC and (iii) Approval of district schedule of rates for engineering items/ works/materials
AT VILLAGE LEVEL:
Village Level: Gram Panchayat (GP): GP mobilizes and supports the formation of UWSSC to ensure participatory approach. GP empowers and provides capacity support to the UWSSC; ensures O&M and cost recovery of the scheme; fund flows, scheme approval, accounts management, auditing, M&E, and conflict resolution.
User Water & Sanitation Committee (UWSSC): UWSSC consists of beneficiaries of the scheme & is the primary management unit exercising control over resources and decision-making including procurement of materials, tariff fixation and revision, community contributions, accounts management and O&M of SVS and intra village MVS. Panchayat Raj Act of the State bestows legal right to the UWSSC, as per 73rd Constitutional Amendment.