Last mile connectivity for urban water supply services
July 2023
In recent years, the Indian government has been making numerous efforts to increase access to safe and adequate drinking water for all. To accomplish Sustainable Development Goal 6.1 i.e., to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all, and to culminate “Har Ghar Jal” and “Har Nal me Jal" moto, it is established that Last Mile Connectivity is an essential step. Various studies suggest that household level tap connections in urban areas, particularly in slum areas, need greater attention.
This study, done for MoHUA, aims to understand the approach and practices taken up by urban local governments to provide individual water connections, particularly focusing on the slums and vulnerable communities. It identifies the gaps and challenges faced by cities to achieve universal coverage of individual tap water connections. It captures the learnings from 10 cities of Gujarat and Maharashtra state. It provides insights into the status of existing water supply coverage and the impact of national flagship programs like AMRUT which focuses on last mile connectivity. The study has also identified measures to improve and ensure the ‘last mile connectivity’ for water supply services.
