In the present study drinking water samples of different ground water sources had been analyzed for the estimation of a problematic chemical parameter nitrate. Analysis of drinking water samples of different sources in different zones in Alwar revealed that the concentration of nitrate had been recorded highest in drinking water samples of North-West Zone.

Supply-led water deprivation prevails in major cities in India. The per capita water availability in these cities is nowhere near the standards laid down by the World Health Organisation or the Bureau of Indian Standards (1993), and it is also far lower than that in other large cities in the world. The availability of water in Indian cities varies with socio-economic groups and areas.

Since the ascent of economic liberalisation in the 1990s, Washington Consensus policies - exemplified by structural adjustment and reform - have become the norm across the globe. As a result the State redefines its role from that of a provider of basic services to a 'facilitator' that enables access to these services.

Water delivery is the responsibility of the government. Thirty years ago many parts of Delhi received drinking water much of the time. Today no area receives water round the clock and worse, the water delivered is contaminated. In common with cities in many developing countries, industrialisation, rapid urbanisation and growing population estimated to be around 16 million, caused in part by migration from rural areas, have put pressure on Delhi's water resources. An increased demand for water and falling ground-water levels have only intensified this pressure.

In this paper we illustrate the socio-economic dynamics of peri-urban zones of Indian Metropolitan cities, which are at the heart of the current urban liberalisation. For this, we study the impact of the water purchasing agreement the Metropolitan water board signed with some farmers of peri-urban areas of Chennai (formerly Madras).