Case Filed in India High Court for Lifesaving Drinking Water in Kolkata Muslim Colony
Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam has moved the Calcutta High Court with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) after water supply to Jyoti Nagar Muslim Colony in North Kolkata remained suspended for nearly three months, affecting around 5,000 low-income residents.
Located along the Ganges in Old Cossipore under Ward 6 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), the decades-old settlement is predominantly inhabited by daily-wage earners, van drivers, and waste collectors. Residents reported that public taps ran dry late last month, disrupting daily cooking, drinking water access, and basic hygiene.
In addition to the water disruption, residents alleged that streetlights across several parts of the neighborhood have been disconnected, leaving the riverfront area in darkness at night and creating severe safety hazards due to heavy vehicular traffic.
“This is a fundamental struggle for clean drinking water for nearly 5,000 residents,” Samirul Islam told The Observer Post. “Water is essential for life.”
Samirul Islam criticized the Kolkata Municipal Corporation for withholding civic facilities, alleging discriminatory treatment based on the community’s identity. He expressed faith in the judiciary to restore essential services to the affected residents.
