Passage

Our urban bodies cannot possibly ensure sustainable delivery of water in our cities unless financing mechanisms are put in place. Water delivery requires heavy investment in collecting it from a natural source, treating it to make it potable, and laying a distribution network of pipes for delivery to the users. It also requires investments in sewerage infrastructure and sewage treatment plants so that the sewers can carry the wastewater to these plants to ensure that no untreated sewage is discharged back into natural water bodies. If our cities were rich enough to meet the entire cost, water could be delivered free. They are not.

QUESTION

CSAT

Hard

Comprehension

Prelims 2020

What is the most logical and crucial message conveyed by the passage?

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Option A is correct. The passage clearly suggests the need to establish financing mechanisms for ULBs to sustain their operations. Levying user charges is identified as one such mechanism.

Option B is incorrect. The passage focuses on the absence of proper financing mechanisms to fund infrastructure for water delivery. Inefficiency, on the other hand, implies the presence of funds that are not being utilized effectively, which is not discussed in the passage.

Option C is incorrect. The passage's first sentence highlights that sustainable water delivery is achievable with the implementation of appropriate financing mechanisms, indicating that water shortages in cities can be resolved.

Option D is incorrect. The passage does not mention overpopulation as a cause of water shortage.