Today, On 4th July, Just two days after ordering an inspection, the Delhi High Court slammed the Jal Board for making citizens drink “sewage mixed water,” questioning why action wasn’t taken until someone knocked on the doors of the court.
The Delhi High Court criticized the city’s water department for supplying contaminated water to multiple colonies, forcing residents to drink “sewage mixed water,” just two days after it had ordered an inspection of the affected areas.
The bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Anish Dayal during the hearing, remarked,
“Unless someone knocks the doors of the court, you yourself can’t do this? You are asking citizens of this city to drink sewage mixed water?”
The court was addressing a plea claiming that residents in various parts of east Delhi were receiving “highly contaminated potable water” tainted with sewage from their household taps.
Also Read: Delhi HC Orders Urgent Jal Board Inspection Over Black Water Supply in East Delhi
Areas affected include Yojana Vihar, Anand Vihar, Jagriti Enclave, and surrounding neighborhoods.
Following the request for an inspection, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) submitted a status report revealing that many homes in these areas have outdated and damaged water supply pipes, including the petitioner’s residence.
The DJB stated that the water distribution system in Yojana Vihar has surpassed its operational lifespan and requires complete replacement, with the system initially installed 35 years ago.
The board also provided a timeline for the replacement of the damaged pipes, indicating that a tender for the project would be issued by July 7, with a contract to be awarded within ten days, by July 17. The project is expected to be completed within 20 days of the contract date.
The court has mandated that the DJB must finish replacing the old and damaged pipelines by August 2025, warning that non-compliance would result in serious consequences.
The DJB committed to prioritizing the replacement of damaged water distribution networks in the affected areas based on available funding and has been instructed to file an affidavit outlining the timeline for the complete replacement of the water distribution system in the region.
The bench stated,
“We also direct that authorities of DJB should be vigilant and take appropriate measures to check that booster pumps are not used during non-supply hours by the residents of the area and if any resident is found indulging in this, necessary action be taken in this regard,”
The case is scheduled for further hearing on August 13.