LUCKNOW: The State Drinking Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM) on Sunday launched a 15-day Jal Mahotsav aimed at handing over water supply responsibilities to gram panchayats in villages that have achieved 100% piped water coverage under the Jal Jeevan Mission.The programme will run till March 22 and will be organised in more than 22,000 villages across Uttar Pradesh. One such event was held at Hussainabad Doolahpur gram panchayat in Gosainganj area of Lucknow.Mohanlalganj MLA Amresh Kumar inaugurated the event by handing over a Jal Kalash to gram pradhan Harinaam. According to the officials, tap water is currently being supplied to 760 households in the Hussainabad Doolahpur Gram Panchayat.Addressing the gathering, Kumar said the state government was working to ensure tap water reaches every household and urged villagers to conserve water. “The government has provided tap water to every home. Now, its conservation is your responsibility. Not a single drop of water should be wasted, and it is the responsibility of every resident to make sure that water reaches every needy person,” he said. During the visit, the MLA also inspected household water connections.Dr Rajshekhar, managing director of the Rural Water Supply Department, said around 11km of pipeline had been laid in the village to provide tap water to every household. “Similar programmes are being organised in many villages across the state,” he said, adding that before the Jal Jeevan Mission there were about 25,000 tap connections in rural Lucknow, which have now increased to 2.25 lakh.During the event, 42 gram pradhans from districts including Lucknow, Sitapur, Hardoi, Hamirpur and Bareilly were felicitated for their work under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Officials said the executing agency will also manage operation, maintenance and water quality monitoring for the next 10 years.The State Drinking Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM) on Sunday launched a 15-day Jal Mahotsav aimed at handing over water supply responsibilities to gram panchayats in villages that have achieved 100% piped water coverage under the Jal Jeevan Mission.The programme will run till March 22 and will be organised in more than 22,000 villages across Uttar Pradesh. One such event was held at Hussainabad Doolahpur gram panchayat in Gosainganj area of Lucknow.Mohanlalganj MLA Amresh Kumar inaugurated the event by handing over a Jal Kalash to gram pradhan Harinaam. According to the officials, tap water is currently being supplied to 760 households in the Hussainabad Doolahpur Gram Panchayat.Addressing the gathering, Kumar said the state government was working to ensure tap water reaches every household and urged villagers to conserve water. “The government has provided tap water to every home. Now, its conservation is your responsibility. Not a single drop of water should be wasted, and it is the responsibility of every resident to make sure that water reaches every needy person,” he said. During the visit, the MLA also inspected household water connections.Dr Rajshekhar, managing director of the Rural Water Supply Department, said around 11km of pipeline had been laid in the village to provide tap water to every household. “Similar programmes are being organised in many villages across the state,” he said, adding that before the Jal Jeevan Mission there were about 25,000 tap connections in rural Lucknow, which have now increased to 2.25 lakh.During the event, 42 gram pradhans from districts including Lucknow, Sitapur, Hardoi, Hamirpur and Bareilly were felicitated for their work under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Officials said the executing agency will also manage operation, maintenance and water quality monitoring for the next 10 years.