Fri May 30 15:42:03 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The Karnataka High Court has mandated that the Karnataka state government create a comprehensive standard operating procedure (SOP) for maintaining drinking water infrastructure across the state. This includes storage tanks, pipelines, and reverse osmosis (RO) plants. The court’s directive stems from a PIL petition regarding contaminated drinking water in Tumakuru district, but the scope was broadened to address similar issues statewide. The court emphasized the government’s constitutional duty to provide safe drinking water. The SOP must include detailed record-keeping of maintenance activities, inspection roadmaps, and guidelines for RO plant upkeep. Non-functional RO plants must be repaired within a month. Accountability for implementation rests with Deputy Commissioners, with Panchayat Development Officers, local officers, elected representatives, and headmasters to oversee maintenance.
**News Article:**
**Karnataka High Court Orders Overhaul of Drinking Water Infrastructure Maintenance**
**Bengaluru, May 30, 2025** – The Karnataka High Court has issued a sweeping directive to the state government, demanding a comprehensive overhaul of the maintenance of drinking water infrastructure. The order mandates the creation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) encompassing storage tanks, pipelines, and reverse osmosis (RO) plants across the state.
The directive arose from a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning contaminated drinking water in Tumakuru district. However, the High Court expanded the scope to encompass the entire state, citing widespread deficiencies in the supply of clean water.
“Even if the infrastructure is in place, the failure to maintain it…amounts to a failure on the part of the State to discharge its constitutional obligations,” the court stated. “The State has a fundamental duty to supply drinking water fit for human consumption.”
The SOP must include detailed record-keeping of all maintenance activities, as well as a roadmap for the inspection, maintenance, and replacement of pipelines. Specific guidelines are required for the maintenance of RO plants, including scheduled cleaning and filter replacement. The court further directed the government to record all income from RO plants and expenditures for their upkeep.
The court has ordered the immediate repair of all non-functional RO plants within one month. Panchayat Development Officers in rural areas and designated local body officers in urban areas, along with elected representatives and headmasters, will oversee the RO maintenance. Deputy Commissioners of respective districts will be held accountable for the implementation of the court’s directives.
This landmark ruling aims to ensure that all citizens of Karnataka have access to safe and clean drinking water, addressing systemic failures in the management of vital public infrastructure.
First Piper 