Nearly five decades after its establishment, Noida continues to struggle with providing a regular supply of clean drinking water to its residents. The Confederation of NCR Resident Welfare Associations (CONRWA) has raised a red flag, accusing the Noida Authority of prolonged neglect in addressing this fundamental civic issue.
A Legacy of Unfulfilled Promises
In a strongly-worded letter addressed to the Noida Authority CEO, CONRWA highlighted the persistent gap between policy commitments and the harsh reality on the ground. The residents' body pointed to Supreme Court directives issued over 25 years ago that mandated 100 per cent treated and purified drinking water for all.
"The Supreme Court's order, issued over 25 years ago, mandated 100% treated and purified drinking water, yet the promises remained largely unfulfilled," stated P S Jain, president of CONRWA. He alleged that the Noida Authority, despite having the financial capacity, failed to install the required water treatment plants, showing a clear lack of priority for providing potable water.
Infrastructure Gap and Widespread Wastage
The letter details how the absence of sufficient public treatment infrastructure has forced a large section of Noida and Greater Noida's population to depend on private purification systems, primarily reverse osmosis (RO) units. CONRWA argues that this stop-gap solution is creating another major problem: massive water wastage.
Jain explained that nearly 70 to 90 per cent of water is wasted through the RO purification process. "We argue that this inefficiency not only wastes valuable resources but also poses a risk of contaminating local water bodies, including the Ganga, with untreated water," he said. This inefficiency underscores the urgent need for centralized, efficient treatment solutions.
Call for Urgent Action and a Proposed Solution
Labeling the continued inaction as neglect of a fundamental right, CONRWA has called for immediate steps. As a practical solution, the federation has proposed setting up small water treatment plants at reservoir sites across the city. This strategy aims to ensure a direct supply of potable water to households while drastically reducing the wastage associated with decentralized RO systems.
"This strategy would also optimise the use of Ganga water and other local sources," Jain added. CONRWA has urged the Noida Authority to frame and implement concrete policies on an urgent basis. To escalate the matter, a copy of the letter has also been sent to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.
The appeal marks 49 years of citizen struggle for a basic necessity, putting the onus squarely on the authorities to translate long-standing judicial directives and promises into actionable reality for Noida's residents.
