Water from sewer plagues residents of Pitampura DDA flats

Samad Hoque

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New Delhi, July 24

The water crisis continues to plague Delhi residents, with unclean water being a major concern. Residents of Delhi Development Authority (DDA) flats in Pitampura have reported that their water supply is contaminated with sewer water. Despite conveying their grievances to Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officials and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, no solution has been provided.

Residents of DDA Janata Flats near Shiva Market in Pitampura have highlighted a long-standing problem in their letter to the DJB: “There is a dirty water drain in our colony which is 30 years’ old and has been blocked only with bricks. The drinking water main line and the sewer main line nearby are connected to each other.”

A resident, Paras Dhyani, said, “We have been struggling with this issue since last month. The water is muddy and has a pungent smell. It is unusable. The water comes twice a day, and it is always like this.”

Resident Welfare Association member Kulomani Bhatt added, “A drain passes behind our society, and the pipeline runs close to it. When this became an everyday issue, we enquired and were told that the water pipeline had rusted, causing sewer water to mix with the supply. The Jal Board officials do not answer our calls, and little has been done to rectify the issue. For one or two days, the water supply is normal, but then it becomes dirty again.”

A DJB official said, “We have not been able to rectify the issue entirely. Two days ago, we fixed a leakage in the pipeline. The water pipeline is 1.5 ft below the drain, and small leakages cause sewer water to mix with the supply. Two months ago, we laid a new pipeline to replace the old pipes and address the leakages.”

Paras added, “During the first hour of water supply, we have to release the unclean water to prevent it from reaching the tank. Only after that can we fill our tanks. Initially, we thought our tank was unclean and had it cleaned, but the issue persisted.”

The letter said, “The use of this water, which is largely unfit for drinking, is causing diseases in the society.”

‘Not able to rectify issue entirely’

We have not been able to rectify the issue entirely. Two days ago, we fixed a leakage in the pipeline. The water pipeline is 1.5 ft below the drain, and small leakages cause sewer water to mix with the supply. — A Delhi Jal Board official

‘Water is muddy and has a pungent smell’

We have been struggling with this issue since last month. The water is muddy and has a pungent smell. It is unusable. The water comes twice a day, and it is always like this. — Paras Dhyani, a resident