A PIL has been filed in the Allahabad High Court demanding the provision of potable water amid the rising heat in Prayagraj city. In this, a demand has been made to repair the damaged hand pumps and make the drinking water system smooth at various places.

The hearing date for this petition remains pending. Social worker Yogendra Kumar Pandey and others have highlighted in their petition that the current average temperature in Prayagraj has surpassed 40 degrees Celsius. However, there has been no provision made for drinking water in the city, nor have the damaged hand pumps been repaired yet.

In addition, there has been a lack of arrangements for cleaning and refilling empty tanks, despite the existence of government-run schemes like JNRM and Amrit Drinking Water Scheme. A demand letter has been forwarded to the government regarding this issue, but unfortunately, no actions have been taken yet. Consequently, individuals arriving in the city from other areas are encountering significant difficulties as a result of these shortcomings.

Advocates Vijay Chandra Srivastava and Sunita Sharma have stated that in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL), Chief Secretary (Urban Development), District Magistrate of Prayagraj, General Manager of the Water Department, Municipal Commissioner, City Mayor, and other relevant parties have been included as respondents.

As summer begins, the Water Works Department of the Municipal Corporation asserts that the city receives a supply of 402 million liters per day (MLD) of drinking water. Of this, approximately 90 MLD is sourced from the Khusrobagh Water Treatment Plant, while around 322 MLD is drawn from 619 tube wells. Specifically within the old 80 wards of the Municipal Corporation, there are 2.18 thousand connection holders. The network of pipelines dedicated to water supply in these wards spans a total length of 1,600 kilometers.

In order to restore the drinking water system in Prayagraj city, the Water Department plans to replace the motors of 12-year-old tube wells. The installation of the new motors will commence within the next two to three days. Regional councilors are also encouraged to provide suggestions to officials regarding the replacement of old motors in tube wells within their respective wards. Over 80 tube wells are slated to receive new motors, with a proposed budget of more than Rs 90 lakh allocated for this endeavor.