In Gandhinagar, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel made an unexpected visit to the office of the Executive Engineer of the Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board. This surprise inspection is part of his ongoing efforts to monitor the work of government departments and district offices. He regularly checks on various offices to ensure they are functioning well and that citizens’ complaints are handled properly.
During his visit on Thursday, the Chief Minister arrived at the Cooperation Complex without any prior notice. He took the opportunity to review the operations of the water and sanitation unit, which works alongside the water supply board.
Patel gathered information about online complaints received on the helpline and the actions taken to resolve them. He also assessed the work being done to address issues raised by rural water committees. The Chief Minister provided necessary suggestions to the officials on how to improve their services.
This visit is not the first of its kind. Earlier, Patel had made surprise inspections in Kheda district and at the old secretariat complex in Gandhinagar. These visits are meant to keep officials on their toes and promote a proactive approach to governance.
The officials and staff at the Cooperation Complex were reportedly surprised and pleased by the Chief Minister’s visit. They appreciated his proactive and people-oriented governance style. Accompanying the Chief Minister during this inspection were his Secretary, Dr. Vikrant Pandey, and Officer on Special Duty, Dheeraj Parekh.
Currently, there are ongoing discussions about providing 24-hour water supply in Gandhinagar. However, sources from the water supply department have stated that there will be no water supply for 24 hours starting tomorrow. New pipelines are being installed under the smart city scheme to ensure continuous water supply, but this project will take time to complete.
Residents of Gandhinagar have been facing water supply issues, especially in the colder winter months. Although water usage has declined during this season, complaints about insufficient water pressure continue. The water supply board plans to clean the pumping stations and machinery at the Nabhoi facility to improve the situation.
As part of these efforts, the water supply will be suspended citywide on January 6 to facilitate this cleaning. Local residents have expressed their concerns, stating that they have not been receiving adequate water pressure, despite previous assurances from authorities that there was sufficient supply.
Reports indicate that there has been a reduction of 20 to 30 percent in daily water supply to various sectors in the city. The Chief Minister’s surprise visit may help bring attention to these issues and encourage improvements in the water supply system in Gandhinagar.