New SOPs to Overhaul Drinking Water, Sewerage, and Water Conservation Projects

 

Urban bodies in Uttar Pradesh will now execute drinking water supply, sewerage, drainage, and water conservation projects under a newly introduced Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

According to officials, the SOP empowers municipal corporations to independently carry out projects up to ₹10 crore. Similarly, municipal councils and nagar panchayats can now approve and execute works worth up to ₹2 crore and ₹40 lakh, respectively, without higher-level clearance.

 

Projects exceeding these financial limits will still require approval from the State Urban Development Agency (SUDA).

The new guidelines cover a wide range of initiatives, including sewer line expansion, drain cleaning, STP repairs, water recycling units, borewell installations, and rainwater harvesting systems.

Under the drinking water schemes, municipal bodies can carry out pipeline expansions, overhead tank construction, installation of underground reservoirs, tube wells, intake wells, booster motors, and water treatment plants.

For water conservation, the SOP mandates protective measures for water bodies, pond restoration, silt removal, solar lighting, fencing, and creating retaining walls to prevent encroachment.

Officials said the new procedures are designed to decentralize decision-making and accelerate critical infrastructure work.