Residents report black, sewage-mixed water in taps since June 12; HC demands swift action and clean supply.
New Delhi: Today, on July 02, the Delhi High Court took serious note of complaints about residents in East Delhi receiving contaminated water and directed the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to immediately conduct a physical inspection of the affected areas.
The Court further asked the authorities to take urgent corrective measures if any fault is found.
The matter was heard by a bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, who were responding to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Dhruv Gupta.
The petition claimed that residents in localities such as Yojana Vihar, Anand Vihar, Jagriti Enclave, and other nearby areas have been receiving drinking water that is mixed with sewer waste and appears to be black in colour.
During the hearing, the bench firmly told the authorities,
“Look at the colour of the water which they are getting, we direct the appropriate authority of DJB to conduct physical inspection, prepare a report and submit it before the court.”
The matter has now been listed for further hearing on July 5.
The High Court also directed the Delhi Jal Board to ensure that residents receive clean and safe drinking water. It added that if, during the inspection, any fault is identified that requires urgent action, it should be rectified without delay.
The court said,
“We direct the appropriate authority of DJB to conduct physical inspection, prepare a report and submit it before the court.”
It further stated,
“In case during the inspection any fault is found which requires urgent attention, it should be immediately rectified.”
The petition submitted by Advocate Dhruv Gupta argued that the health and safety of residents are in danger due to the supply of highly contaminated drinking water.
ALSO READ: Haryana vs Punjab Water War: State to Move Supreme Court Over Bhakra Water Dispute
He highlighted that residents, including senior citizens and children, are at risk of serious health problems due to the continuous supply of water mixed with sewage.
According to the petition, this issue has persisted since June 12. Despite filing multiple complaints with the authorities, no meaningful action was taken, and the problem still exists.
The petitioner pointed out that the entire Vishwas Nagar constituency, including the Yojana Vihar area, has been badly affected by the supply of contaminated water.
The plea also emphasised that the right to clean drinking water is a basic right and that this ongoing issue is a violation of that right. It warned that if not addressed urgently, it could lead to a major health crisis in the region.
The petitioner specifically stated that such supply of highly contaminated sewer water as drinking water may lead to grave health diseases to residents, including elderly and children, leading to mass health crisis.
The court also asked the Delhi Jal Board’s lawyer to seek instructions from relevant officials and provide a detailed update in the next hearing.
The petition has sought a direction from the Court to both the Delhi Government and the DJB to make sure that clean drinking water, free from any mixing with sewage, is supplied to all affected areas as soon as possible.
Additionally, the petition requested the court to issue directions to prevent the mixing of drinking water with sewage in the future as well.
Case Title:
Dhruv Gupta v. Government of NCT of Delhi & Delhi Jal Board
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Water Supply
