My area in Kanpur does not have a sewerage connection, can I compel the municipality to provide one under state sewerage rules?
IM Asked by Imran Sheikh from India
Quick Answer
Provision of sewerage is a municipal function under Uttar Pradesh Rent Control Act 1972 and failure to provide it can be challenged as a violation of right to health.
Detailed Legal Analysis
Provision of sewerage is a municipal function under Uttar Pradesh Rent Control Act 1972 and failure to provide it can be challenged as a violation of right to health. The Allahabad High Court has held that residents cannot be left to manage without drainage where a network exists nearby in Kanpur.
You can submit a representation to the municipal commissioner with photographs of overflowing sewage and health hazards. If no action follows, a public interest or individual writ before the Allahabad High Court can seek a direction to lay sewerage lines.
Connecting your premises to the public sewer requires a licence and payment of connection charges. Septic tank construction is permitted where sewerage is absent, subject to pollution control norms.
The authority must publish a timeline for coverage under the state sanitation policy.
Disclaimer: AI-generated for educational purposes only. Does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified practitioner.