Minister Seethakka, IAS Smitha Sabherwal and others attending a Mission Bagiratha review meeting in Hyderabad.
| Photo Credit: RAMAKRISHNA G

To help rural residents register complaints about drinking water supply issues, a dedicated call centre for Mission Bhagiratha has been launched at its head office in Errum Manzil, here on Monday following directives from Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, and Rural Water Supply (RWS) Minister Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka).

People can call on toll-free number 1800-599-4007 to register grievances. The centre, staffed by a team of five professionals led by a Superintending Engineer (SE)-level official, will function 24/7. Staff will attend to calls during the day, while those received at night will be recorded for review. Mission Bhagiratha Engineer-in-Chief G. Krupakar Reddy will oversee daily complaints to ensure timely resolutions, with issues to be resolved within 24 hours.

The call centre is part of an initiative to streamline communication between rural residents and field teams. Complaints received through the toll-free number will be forwarded to the field level, where appropriate advice and arrangements will be made for resolution. This marks a significant step in ensuring that rural water supply challenges are addressed effectively and efficiently.

Minister Seethakka’s directions have brought a renewed focus on Mission Bhagiratha, emphasizing regular reviews, public awareness programmes and efficient problem-solving mechanisms. Alternative water supply channels have also been planned to address any emergencies.

Additionally, Mission Bhagiratha has undertaken significant restoration work on previously neglected infrastructure, repairing and putting into use 64,218 hand pumps, 45,882 single-phase motors and 32,517 Piped Water Supply (PWS) motors. These efforts, combined with the establishment of the call centre, underscore the government’s commitment to providing a seamless and reliable water supply to rural areas.