Water connection stuck? File one RTI

Quick Reply: New water connection / sewerage application stuck at Municipal Water Board for months? File an RTI under §6(1) RTI Act 2005. Free template, JJM/AMRUT timelines.

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.

water-connection, BWSSB, DJB, MCGM, jal-jeevan-mission, AMRUT, municipal-water, citizen-rti, section-6-1

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