TMC MP writes UN over drinking water denial to 5,000 Kolkata Muslims

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam has approached the United Nations human rights office over the prolonged disruption of drinking water in Kolkata’s Jyotinagar Colony, where around 5,000 residents, predominantly Muslims, have reportedly been struggling without a regular supply for months, a report by Maktoob Media said.

In a letter to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Islam described the crisis as a serious humanitarian and human rights issue and urged the international body to seek explanations from the authorities regarding the disruption, emergency assistance and plans to restore a permanent water supply.

The MP alleged that the supply was cut following the BJP’s victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. He further claimed that political hostility towards the predominantly Muslim neighbourhood, allegedly because its residents did not vote for the BJP, was behind the continuing deprivation. These allegations have not been independently established.

Located in the Cossipore area of north Kolkata, Jyotinagar Colony has reportedly been without regular tap water since July 29. Residents have been forced to depend on irregular water tankers and the Ganga to meet their daily needs, raising concerns about the safety of the water they consume and the resulting health risks.

Residents have also alleged discriminatory treatment, pointing to functioning water taps in neighbouring Hindu-majority localities. Although people from neighbouring communities have reportedly shared their water with affected families, residents fear that this informal support cannot continue indefinitely and could put their own supply at risk.

The controversy has also drawn attention to remarks attributed to local BJP MLA Ritesh Tiwari, who allegedly indicated that he would not work for Muslims who had not voted for him.

Islam urged the UN to examine the matter within its mandate, emphasising that access to safe drinking water is internationally recognised as a human right. The crisis, he argued, raises fundamental questions about residents’ access to health care, dignity, and an adequate standard of living.

Indian courts have also recognised access to water as an essential aspect of the constitutional right to life.