Slum dwellers hit by inflated bills: Cong

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Devender Yadav on Sunday alleged that the AAP Government and the BJP had neglected the slum dwellers residing in Delhi’s JJ clusters.

Speaking at a press conference, he accused both parties of making hollow promises ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections while ignoring the plight of the poor over the past decade.

“Slum dwellers are being burdened with inflated water and electricity bills, which run into thousands, for services they hardly consume,” Yadav said. “In one shocking case, a single-room slum household received a water bill of over Rs 8,000. This is exploitation of the poorest of the poor by the very government that promised them free water.”

Yadav further alleged that the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has effectively been taken over by a “tanker mafia,” forcing residents to purchase bottled water for daily consumption. He accused former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of failing to honour his promises of free water and electricity while actively colluding with vested interests to fleece the residents.

“It was the Congress government that implemented a policy to settle slum dwellers by allotting them plots and later formulating an in-situ flat construction policy,” he said. “We ensured better living standards for those who built this city with their hard work.” Yadav claimed that the residents of JJ clusters had expressed their disillusionment with AAP and BJP during Congress Nyay Yatra. and pledged their support to Congress. “The people have resolved to ensure the exit of Kejriwal from power. Congress is the only party that has consistently protected the interests and welfare of slum dwellers,” he added.

Yadav lambasted the AAP government for failing to desilt drains, which led to severe flooding in JJ clusters near the Yamuna river during monsoon. “When slums were flooded and lives were upended, Kejriwal stayed silent. No compensation was given, and no efforts were made to help uprooted families rebuild their homes,” he said.

He also accused the BJP and AAP of colluding to demolish several JJ clusters, rendering thousands homeless.