A day after a man was killed in south Delhi’s Sangam Vihar after an alleged argument over water connection, residents of the area said on Saturday that they have been facing a water shortage for the past few weeks.
The residents complained about low water supply by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and said they were forced to buy expensive packaged water.
Sorm Singh, a resident of Sangam Vihar, said, “People here face water shortage, especially in the summer, because the supply is low. I get to fill water only once in three days.” He said that the problem has worsened due to low pressure and reduction in supply.
Ramesh, a resident of D-Block in Sangam Vihar, said: “Half the people here do not get water because the landlords take their portion and then switch off the supply motors.”
Ramesh said he receives water just once a week, adding that a majority of the people living in the area are on rent and are dependent on the landlords for water. He also complained that they are never informed about the availability of water supply.
With the water supply running short, the residents said incidents of violence are not surprising. “This is a usual occurrence. People fight whenever the water comes and many get injured in the process,” said Ramesh.
When asked whether officials from the DJB or the area MLA make visits, the residents unanimously said no.
Anil Mishra, who has been living in the area for 15 years, said: “The supporters of various MLAs always receive water. The rest of us have to struggle for jugs and cans of water.” He added that many residents try to store water in coolers but get fined by the municipality for creating mosquito breeding grounds.
Refuting the allegations, DJB vice-chairperson Dinesh Mohaniya said, “There is continuous supply of water for three hours a day in A and D blocks. We have installed pipelines there.” He also said that the DJB staff often visit the area.
