Against provisions of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNRUM) that no freebies will be allowed in any of the projects, Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) council had yesterday cleared a proposal to ensure free water supply to the city of Bhopal.
As of now locals of Bhopal's residents receive paid water supply during scheduled timings. Many localities receive water in two days. Though the council has sent proposal to the state government, it would be impossible for the government to ensure free water like that is ensured by newly installed Delhi government.
“Bhopal has recently completed its Narmada water supply project under JNRUM but it cannot be supplied at free of cost,” a senior government official said adding, “It is a mandatory condition.”
Water supply in Bhopal is also mired in controversy since gas tragedy affected localities are not yet ensured adequate water supply despite Supreme Court had ordered the state to do so.
Also Narmada water supply project is not only delayed its cost has crossed Rs 700 crore thereby escalating metered water supply to mere Rs 180 per month to Rs 450 per month at Rs 14 per kilo liter.
Congress corporators, in the meeting, though insisted that city mayor Krishna Gaur, who is daughter-in-law of Cabinet minister Babulal Gaur, had promised regular water supply to the entire city but failed to keep her promise and should ensure free water supply if it had to be scheduled.
A major hurdle in ensuring water supply to the capital town is that it has largely illegal colonies and Bhopal Municipal Corporation has no water distribution network there. If it has to ensure regular water supply in these colonies it requires huge manpower, which is not possible in present poor financial conditions of the corporation,” another government official told BS.
According to a government estimate, Bhopal will have to resolve the water crisis by 2022. The total demand will reach 500 million liters per day if consumption stands at 150 litres water per person per day.
