Following an increase in demand from citizens and activists, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has reportedly amended the "Water For All" policy. According to a report by the Free Press Journal, the policy will offer a one-tap connection for five families, instead of 15 which was proposed earlier.
Based on the account, this would mean three times greater connections. The "Water For All" policy was inaugurated by Maharashtra chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray on May 7 at an event in Goregaon.
For those unversed, the policy offers water connections to the unmapped settlements of Mumbai. These entail slum clusters, erstwhile villages, fishing village settlements and illegal non-slum residential structures.
By means of this policy, residents of unauthorised settlements on government land parcels such as railways, forest departments and collector's land will stand to gain. Previously, the BMC was not offering water connections to illegal or unauthorised structures.
It is important to note that the provision of water supply will not be validated as a document for claiming ownership or title of a property before a court of law.
Additionally, certain narratives suggest that the civic body administration has claimed that the policy will benefit 150 slums and 55,000 buildings sans occupation certificate that has nearly 20 lakh residents. The BMC hopes that this will help them in curbing water thefts.
Reports are doing the rounds that the procedure of working out the number of connections is in process. Applicants need to offer valid residential proof, install a water meter as well as pay for the maintenance and repair of the pipeline. Once these conditions are fulfilled, the applicants will receive a connection in 15 days, the BMC has claimed.
Moreover, accounts remark that the civic body has demanded an undertaking from the slums for the said facility's drainage or they will have to acquire a no-objection certificate from the civic authority.
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