India, Aug. 27 -- Six years after 88 villages were brought within LMC limits, residents of these predominantly rural pockets are still waiting for basic urban amenities, with access to reliable potable water emerging as the most pressing concern. Even in 2021, when LMC and Jal Sansthan began preparing a plan for the newly included villages, officials acknowledged that many residents were dependent on handpumps and submersible pumps. A proposal was prepared for laying water pipelines as well as sewer lines, while the LMC had estimated that development of the 88 villages would require around Rs.100 crore. The present crisis acquired greater urgency because the government's own assessment indicated that groundwater cannot provide a sustainable solution for all 88 villages. During the proceedings, the court was informed that the available groundwater is insufficient to meet drinking water requirement of these areas. This effectively rules out dependence on the traditional arrangement of handpumps and individual/localised borewells as a long-term solution. htc...