NGT raps Jal Board for supplying dirty water to Janakpuri residents

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pulled up Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for supplying non-potable water to Janakpuri residents in the capital.

Residents in the area have alleged that the Delhi Jal Board is supplying sewage mixed drinking water to them. The households have alleged that the sewage line in the area has been blocked resulting in corrosion of the pipelines supplying the fresh water and consequently untreated sewage is getting mixed with the drinking water supplied through the pipelines

A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said, “Supply of drinking water which is unfit to the residents of the city is very serious matter but ignoring such a seriousness the DJB has not taken expeditious action to remediate it and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has not done the needful to get the water sample report expeditiously in terms of the previous order of the tribunal.”

The tribunal has directed the Central Pollution Control Board to take fresh samples and submit a report to it.

The DJB has filed the affidavit dated April 5 making an effort to show the action which has been taken but unless the water supplied to the residents of the concerned area is found to be fit for drinking it cannot be said that adequate action has been taken by the DJB, the tribunal said.

During the proceedings, the applicant’s counsel said the residents were suffering after consuming the contaminated water, and one of the residents was hospitalised after being diagnosed with Hepatitis A and E. Coli.