From Drinking to Bathing, Unsafe Water Disrupts Life Across Delhi Localities

New Delhi: In many old and densely populated areas of the capital, Delhi, the problem of clean water has now turned from an everyday problem to a serious crisis. In areas like Nabi Karim, Prem Nagar, Rajendra Nagar, and Daryaganj, people have been getting smelly and dirty water for a long time. The situation is such that getting safe water for drinking has become a daily struggle.

Where are people getting drinking water from?

In many areas, the compulsion has increased so much that people are taking water home from borings installed in temples or from tanks kept near drains. At some places, the pipeline itself is passing near the drain, raising questions about the quality of water. Despite this, even after complaints, no officer is coming to the spot to investigate.

Was any action taken on the complaints?

Local people say that they lodged complaints several times with the Delhi Jal Board and the MLA's office, but neither water samples were taken nor any concrete efforts were made to improve the supply. In many cases, even after three or four days of complaining, the officers did not arrive for inspection.

Why is money being spent on bottled water?

The situation in the Indrapuri area of ​​the Rajendra Nagar assembly is said to be most worrying. Smelly water has been coming from the taps here for the last week. Under compulsion, people are quenching their thirst by buying water bottles worth Rs 20 to 40, which is putting an additional burden on the budget of every family.

How bad is the situation in Nabi Karim and Prem Nagar?

This problem is not new in the Nabi Karim area. People here say that for the last two years, black and smelly water has been coming from many streets. The situation is such that neither one can bathe properly nor cook food with this water. The residents of street number one of Prem Nagar are also complaining that despite repeated complaints, neither the water was cleaned nor any official came to check.

How much does it cost to transport water?

The impact of water shortage is not limited to just the quality, but its transportation has also become a big problem. In Rajendra Nagar, one has to pay Rs 25 for providing water to the first floor, Rs 30 for the second, Rs 35 for the third, and Rs 40 for the fourth floor. Due to this, financial pressure on poor and middle-class families is increasing.

What is the impact on health?

Local people say that cooking and bathing have to be done with this dirty water, due to which diseases like vomiting and diarrhea are spreading. Its effect is more visible on children and the elderly.

What did the local people say?

Lal Bahadur says that this problem has persisted for two years, but the solution has not been found to date. Jagdish says that diseases are increasing due to dirty water, yet no hearing is taking place.

Ladli Parveen alleges that complaints were given to the MLA, councilor, and Water Board, but no one even comes to see her. Another resident says that before sending the children to school in the morning, there is no water even for bathing, in winter somehow the work gets done, but in summer the situation becomes even worse.

In a metropolis like Delhi, people struggling like this for clean water raises serious questions on the administrative system. Now it has to be seen when the concerned departments wake up and people get relief from this basic problem.