Indore Tragedy: Contaminated Water Claims Lives, Exposing Civic Failures

सही उत्तर: D

Statement 1 is correct. The Twelfth Schedule (Article 243W) of the Constitution, introduced by the 74th Amendment, lists 18 functions of Municipalities, and 'Water supply for domestic, industrial and commercial purposes' is indeed one of them (item 5). Statement 2 is correct. Article 243ZA mandates the State Election Commission to superintend, direct and control the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Municipalities. Statement 3 is correct. ULBs rely heavily on grants from the Central Finance Commission (through state governments), state-specific grants, and their own revenue sources like property taxes, professional taxes, and user charges for financial autonomy. Therefore, all three statements are correct.

सही उत्तर: D

Statement A is correct. Landmark judgments like Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation, Francis Coralie Mullin v. Administrator, Union Territory of Delhi, and M.C. Mehta v. Union of India have significantly expanded the scope of Article 21 to include the right to health, clean environment, and clean drinking water. Statement B is correct. Article 47 of the Directive Principles of State Policy states that 'The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties'. Statement C is correct. PILs have been crucial in judicial activism, leading to pronouncements that ensure access to basic necessities like clean water and sanitation as part of the right to life. Statement D is NOT correct. The 'polluter pays' principle, which makes the party responsible for pollution liable for paying for the damage done to the natural environment, is indeed enforceable in India, especially in cases of environmental degradation leading to public health crises. The Supreme Court has upheld this principle in various judgments, including Vellore Citizens' Welfare Forum v. Union of India.

सही उत्तर: D

All four statements represent significant challenges faced by ULBs in providing safe drinking water in rapidly urbanizing areas. 1. Inadequate financial resources and dependence on state grants limit ULBs' ability to invest in new infrastructure, maintenance, and technology. 2. Lack of skilled manpower and technical expertise often leads to poor water quality monitoring, inadequate treatment, and inefficient distribution. 3. Unplanned growth and informal settlements (slums) pose challenges for laying down proper water pipelines, sewerage systems, and ensuring equitable access. 4. Water management often involves multiple agencies (e.g., municipal corporations, water boards, public health engineering departments), leading to overlapping jurisdictions, lack of accountability, and poor coordination, which can result in service gaps and quality issues. Therefore, all statements are correct.