Study to Identify the Significant Factors Affecting Willingness to Pay for Rural Piped Drinking Water Supply in Meerut

Page: 70-74
Eesha Priya1 and Rishi Raj2 (IAS, Chief Development Officer, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh1, IAS, Chief Development Officer, Budaun, Uttar Pradesh2)

The Northern Capital Region (NCR) has emerged as a major economic growth engine in Northern India on the wheels of construction, services, manufacturing and sugarcane hub. The region has been facing drinking water issues due to rapidly depleting and contaminated ground water levels. Meerut being one of the NCR districts faces the twin issue of demand for water for both urban and rural growth. Consequently, the rural population in Meerut is facing the threat of contamination and depletion of ground water. As situation becomes grim in 5 blocks out of 12 blocks of the district, the State government has installed piped drinking water facilities in villages at a monthly user charge, which have been stalled because of unwillingness of villagers to pay for mandated user charges and the incapacity of the gram panchayats. Hence, this study aims to identify the factors behind the same by using scientific qualitative and quantitative research tools.