The unanimously passed resolution of the UN Water Conference says, “All people, whatever the state of development of their social and economic conditions, have the right to have access to drinking water in a quantum and of a quantity equal to their basic needs.” Since India also is a signatory to the UN Water Conference Resolution in 1997, it is under obligation to abide by it.

But, do these pieces of paper actually mean anything at all at the ground level? The answer has to be an unambiguous ‘no’. Forget about ensuring drinking water for all, here in Orissa, those who are somehow privileged to get the elixir of life are paying much more in this regard.

Over the years tube wells fitted with hand pumps have proved to be the most appropriate technique to provide safe drinking water especially for the rural population because of its low cost, speedy execution, easy repair and less recurring cost factors. In recent past, in the name of community participation and demand driven project, somehow the concept of ‘rural piped water supply’ has been established to show handsome expenditure at the end of the financial years.

The recently much focused pipe water supply that supposedly serves as a better option compared to the tube wells, is in fact soon turning into a burden on users. Pipe water supply projects are useless without electricity and to provide drinking water in the changed context, it is essential to provide source along with electricity. But in such demand driven projects, arrangements have been made to shift the entire responsibility of operation and maintenance of the water supply projects to the beneficiaries, ironically ignoring the right aspect. Pipe water supply projects require high maintenance cost along with operational/recurring cost like meeting electricity bill expenses. Even if in some cases people are ready to take-up the responsibility to get this elixir of life, state has demonstrated best way of service by putting the ‘rural pipe water supply’ at the highest slab (so-called commercial) of electricity charge. Though from beginning it was in the highest slab, but after revision of electricity tariff from April 1, 2010, the burden over villagers has increased substantially like the mercury. In the revised rate, people have to pay Rs 1.10 per unit for agricultural water pumping and Rs 4.20 per unit for drinking water pumping in rural areas. Knowing that agriculture carries economic benefit for people, the electricity tariff is subsidised. Whereas drinking water is all about human life and as a fundamental right of the people require a more relaxed electricity tariff, not the present tariff at the highest slab. Subsidy for agriculture is a good step. But this, rather in more subsidised manner, should also be applicable in case of drinking water.

Intellectuals’ verdict is that the ‘rural pipe water supply’ is the first step towards privatisation in drinking water, as private players will take-up the system, when community fails to maintain. It sounds quite logical, as privatisation of electricity is preparing the base for privatisation of rural pipe water supply projects by charging the highest rate for electricity consumption.

When it comes about the fundamental right of people, the state should mean it and demonstrate proactive role to ensure it. Profit should not be made out while ensuring the right. Otherwise democracy will have no meaning and constitutional papers will just be a reading material.