For the past two years, residents of Giri Nagar here have been complaining about the bad quality of water being supplied to them, stating that it smells and often looks like sewage.
Taking heed of the situation, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) undertook renovations of the supply lines in the area. The work that was completed about a month back has made no difference, said residents on Thursday. “I spray room freshener in my bathroom daily. The water that comes at 4 p.m. is smelly,” said Rajeev Kumar, a resident.
Praveen Kumar, who lives in Bal Mukund Khand (BMK), one of the four pockets in the area, got his tanks cleaned recently but said the faint smell of sewage continues to come from the water. “When we emptied the water to clean the tank, the whole house was filled with an unpleasant odour.”
Poonam, another resident, said the water had to be let out for about 20 minutes when the supply starts after which it becomes usable. Most residents rely on bottled water for drinking. General Secretary of the Resident Welfare Association for the BMK claimed that the problem affects all four pockets in Giri Nagar, where around 1,184 people reside.
“We are paying for the supply of a poisonous substance,” he said, citing pictures of black water circulated on the RWA WhatsApp group. He said recently a blockage in the system was identified as the problem and removed on April 8 but it made no difference to the supply. “We just want our basic rights to be taken care of,” he said.