RURAL WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION DEPARTMENT
Rural Water Supply Department was formulated during the year 1997 by the Government
of Andhra Pradesh creating separate divisions of Rural Water Supply since a number of villages are still to
be provided with quality drinking water. In exercise of powers conferred by article 309 of the Constitution
of India, Government further decided to bifurcate PR & RD Department into Panchayati Raj and Rural
Water Supply Departments. Accordingly Panchayat Raj Rural development Engineering service gets
bifurcated into Panchayat Raj Engineering service and Rural water Supply Engineering Service during the
Year 2007 and deemed to have been created with effect from 1.4.2008. It functions directly under the
Ministry of Rural water Supply with Principal Secretary to Government (RWS) as its administrative head
and Engineer-in-Chief as its technical head.
Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department is the nodal agency in the State for
providing drinking water and sanitation facilities in rural areas. The drinking water facilities are being
provided by various types of schemes such as
Spot sources (Bore Wells fitted with Hand Pumps)
Protected Water Supply Schemes (for one habitation/village)
Comprehensive Protected Water Supply Schemes (for a group of habitations/
villages)
Objectives
To provide every rural person with adequate safe water for drinking, cooking and other basic needs
on sustainable basis.
By 2024 every rural person will have access with 55 LPCD within their household premises.
As per the 73rd Constitutional amendment, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has
devolved the following functions to the Panchayat Raj Institutions(PRIs) in respect of Rural Water
Supply Department vide G.O.Rt. No 569 Dt. 22-12-2007, of P.R& R.D (RWS-I) as noted below with
the technical assistance of RWS&S Department.
The Operation and Maintenance of Multi village schemes (ie:CPWS Schemes) is to be looked
after by the Zilla Parishads
The Operation and Maintenance of all the individual PWS Schemes (single village schemes) is
to be looked after by the concerned Gram Panchayats
The Operation and Maintenance of Hand pumps in a Mandal is to be looked after by the Mandal
Parishads
The funds required for the Operation and Maintenance of the above Schemes are being directly
released to the concerned Zilla Parishads, Gram panchayats and Mandal Parishads by the
Commissioner, PR &RE under various Finance Commission Grants.
RWS&S has head office @ State level headed by Engineer-in-Chief (RWS&S). Chief
Engineer is the in-charge of one Program at State level who reports to Engineer-in-Chief.
Based on the above lines, offices were established at various levels in the organization
for execution and maintenance of works and its details are as follows:
S.No. RWS&S Offices @ Various Levels
1 Engineer-In-Chief office/Chief Engineer @ State level.
2 Circle Office @ District Level ( Superintending Engineer)
3 Division Office @ Division Level (Executive Engineer).
4 Sub-Division Office @ Mandal Level (Deputy Executive Engineer).
5 Section Office @ Mandal Level (Assistant Executive Engineer/Asst. Engineer).
MAJOR PROGRAMMES
National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP)/Jal Jeevan
Mission (JJM):
o In 2009, the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme was modified as the National
Rural Drinking Water Programme which aims on providing the basic necessity of safe
drinking water to the rural areas.
o From 2013 onwards NRDWP focus on piped water supply by increasing household tap
connections and raising drinking water supply norms from 40 lpcd to 55 lpcd.
o The main objective of Jal Jeevan Mission is to provide piped water supply for all
households by 2024 with minimum service level of 55 litres per capita per day (LPCD)
o The funding pattern will be 50:50 basis between the Centre and the States. The
administrative sanction will be accorded by the State Government.
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD):
o Sanction of projects will be communicated to the State Governments through the respective
Regional Offices (ROs) of NABARD.
o State Governments are provided with loans on reimbursement basis against the actual
expenditure incurred in execution of specific sanctioned projects.
Andhra Pradesh Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project
(APRWSSP (World Bank)):
o The objective of the Project is to improve rural water supply and sanitation services through
progressive decentralization, community participation and enhanced accountability.
o The project comprises three main components: (A) Capacity and Sector Development (B)
Infrastructure Development and (C) Project Implementation Support.
o The administrative sanctions are accorded by the DWSC Chairman at District Level.
o The scheme was closed by 31.05.2016
Special Development Package (SDP):
o It is a Cental Government Fund.
o The District Collector will accord administrative sanction for the works under SDP.
State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF):
o The Funds will be allocated by the State Government and administrative sanction will be
accorded by the District Collector.
o The type of works taken under this category includes
Transportation through tankers
Hiring of Agriculture Borewells
Flushing and Deepening of Borewells
Operation and Maintenance of CPWS Schemes (O&M):
o All the CPWS Schemes will be handed over to Zilla Parishads for Operation &
Maintenance after commissioning of the Scheme.
o At present there are 15 CPWS Schemes in YSR District which are under Operation &
Maintenance.
o 15th Finance Commission Grant was released to the Zilla Parishad for the CPWS Schemes
for O&M.
