India, March 21 -- More than 100 residents of Aarey Colony, along with members of the Pani Haq Samiti, protested outside the colony's chief executive officer's office on Friday, alleging a five-year delay in issuing no-objection certificates (NOCs) required for water connections for about 650 families.

Residents claimed that despite approvals from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) under its 'water for all' policy, the final clearance from the Aarey administration has been pending since 2021, effectively denying access to piped water.

As Aarey Milk Colony owns the land, the CEO's NOC is mandatory for water connections. Protesters argued that access to water has been recognised as a fundamental right by a landmark High Court or...