In a move that may benefit lakhs of slum dwellers across the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed to supply water to all city slums, even those which are unauthorised and came up after 2000.
How will the BMC do this?
The civic body has framed a policy on this which will be presented to the civic standing committee this week for approval. Once the standing committee gives its nod, the policy will be presented before the general body for approval before it is finalised.
Why's it being done?
Civic authorities were planning to provide authorised water connections to slums because frequent theft of it was costing the BMC exchequer heavily. Moreover, slum dwellers also stood a chance of receiving contaminated water when they took it from other sources. Municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte had written to the state urban development department last year, seeking permission to provide water supply to all slums. dna was the first to report about it.
Last December, the Bombay high court had directed the BMC to come out with a policy before March 2, 2015, to provide water to slums. A copy of the proposed policy has also been submitted to the high court.
What does the policy say?
Most slums will be provided water by the BMC at a cost of Rs4.32 per kilo litre. However, slums on roads/footpaths, private land, which have not been declared as slums, those in CRZ jurisdiction and residences of project-affected people will not be covered. Slums on central government land will need an NOC from the Centre to get water from the BMC.
The policy also mentions that providing water to illegal slums does not mean they have been legalised, they may come under the hammer later.
Slum dwellers will compulsorily have to provide residence proof, such as ration card and Aadhaar card, to get water supply from the BMC.
Officialspeak
A senior official from the water department said, "Slums where our water network reaches will be provided water immediately. For other slums, it may take up to two years."
