Water For All Policy: BMC To Supply Potable Water For Slumdwellers, Residential Areas & Buildings From May. Check Details

The policy aims to curb illegal water connections and water pollution, apart from protecting an individual’s fundamental rights.

Men drawing water from tank (Getty Image)

New Delhi: Mumbai is set to implement potable "water for all" policy from May 1 coinciding with the Maharashtra Day. The Mumbai civic body on Monday decided on the implementation of the policy, according to news agency PTI.

In this regard, Maharashtra tourism and environment minister Aaditya Thackeray convened a special meeting on the “water for all policy” at the BMC headquarters with civic officials.

“The meeting discussed how water can be made available to every citizen in Mumbai as it has become a fundamental right. Water is also considered as one of the important factors in sustainable development,” said Aaditya, according to the report.

What’s water for all policy and who all will benefit?

The policy was initially announced in the budget for 2022-23 in February. As per the revised policy, water supply has been proposed even for the previously excluded slum dwellers, residential areas and buildings. The policy aims to provide water connections for people staying on footpaths and roads, according to the PTI report.

To ensure that no one will remain thirsty in the city, different sources of water supply like water desalination plants are being developed. The policy will also curb illegal water connections and water pollution, apart from protecting an individual’s fundamental rights.

The civic body informed that residential spaces, buildings and slums will be given water connections.

 “As per the provisions of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, every citizen has the fundamental right to get good food, clean water and air,” the civic body said in a release adding that it has come up with a comprehensive policy.

Water supply will be made available once a guarantee is taken from undeclared hut owners on private land, the release mentioned adding that for slum dwellers living under the Coastal Regulatory Zone, water supply will be made available in public bathrooms.

Going by policy as mentioned in the Hindustan Times report, slum holders on lands of the central Government, including Railways, Airports Authority, BPT, will also be offered water connection given there is no objection from the concerned authorities.

The policy will also cover water connections for all illegal extensions constructed post-1964 as the current cutoff date is 1964.