Table of Contents
Water connection stuck? File one RTI
Short version. New household water + sewerage connection is provided by Municipal Water Boards (Bengaluru BWSSB, Delhi DJB, Mumbai MCGM, Hyderabad HMWSSB, Chennai CMWSSB) under city-specific Water Acts. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and AMRUT add federal funding. Typical SLA: 30-60 days from application + plumbing inspection. RTI to PIO of Water Board / ULB with ₹10 fee legally forces a written reply within 30 days under §7(1) RTI Act 2005.
A real story
Pradeep applied for new BWSSB water connection at his Whitefield home in February. “Pending plumbing inspection” for 11 weeks.
He filed RTI to BWSSB Sub-Division PIO. 24 days later BWSSB replied: plumber visited on day 30 but couldn't access; rescheduled. Connection installed 9 days later.
Statute
- State Water Supply / Sewerage Acts (Karnataka 2003, Delhi 1998, Mumbai/Maharashtra 2009, etc.). - Jal Jeevan Mission Operational Guidelines (Ministry of Jal Shakti). - AMRUT 2.0 (MoHUA). - §6(1) + §7(1) RTI Act.
Copy-ready RTI
To, PIO, [BWSSB / DJB / MCGM / HMWSSB / CMWSSB / ULB], [Address] Subject: §6(1) RTI Act — water/sewerage connection application Applicant name : [Name] Address : [Full + Khata/Property no.] Connection type: [Domestic / Commercial / Sewerage] Application no.: [Reference] Application date: DD-MM-YYYY Please provide: 1. Current status + stage. 2. Plumbing inspection date (if conducted) + report. 3. Reason for delay beyond [Water Board] SLA of [30/45/60] days. 4. Name + designation of dealing JE/AE. 5. Connection charges + procedure. 6. JJM / AMRUT subsidy applicable. 7. Expected installation date. Citizen. Fee: ₹10 IPO/DD enclosed. [Name + signature + address + date]
Common scenarios
- Plumbing inspection skipped → reinspection demand. - Pipe-laying disputed (road cutting NOC) → ULB coordination RTI. - Sewerage connection delay → separate ASCR officer. - Disputed bill on existing connection → meter reading log. - Tanker billing during interruption → compensation under ULB regulations.
Case law
- Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar, (1991) 1 SCC 598 — Right to clean water = Art. 21. - CIC Water Board v. Citizen (2018) — ULB directed to disclose pendency.
FAQs
JJM 100% rural coverage — village without piped supply?
File RTI to district JJM nodal officer.
Borewell permission RTI?
State groundwater regulator.
Apartment bulk connection — different SLA?
Yes — typically 60-90 days.
Conclusion
Water = right; municipal inertia = RTI fix. ₹10.
File the RTI.
Sources
- RTI Act 2005, JJM Guidelines, AMRUT 2.0. - Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar (1991) 1 SCC 598.
Last reviewed: 24 April 2026.