The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has alleged that around 950 water pipelines in Delhi have been identified as passing out through drains.
The MCD Medical Relief and Public Health Committee chairman V.K. Monga wrote to the NHRC chairperson Justice K.G. Balakrishnan seeking his
intervention for fixing responsibility in supply of contaminated water. Mr Monga alleged that out of 950 such pipelines, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has repaired only 10 pipelines and his week alone, it had reported 56 such pipelines to DJB but none of them has been repaired despite repeated reminder by the civic body.
NHRC had earlier served a notice to Delhi government and DJB following reports that many of the pipelines passed through sewers and people were being supplied contaminated water.
According to Mr Monga, till September 15 this year, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi reported to DJB that 942 pipelines were passing through drains and only ten have been shifted so far. Leakages of various magnitudes have been reported in 95 other pipelines and only 11 have been corrected till date.
“Around 10 per cent of water samples have been reported to be without chlorination, which means these many people are receiving potentially contaminated water,” he alleged.
Out of the 1,219 tube wells supplying water in many parts of Delhi, only 629 are functioning with chlorinators, 105 are without functional chlorinator and most importantly 485 tube wells do not have chlorinators at all.
“It again shows that a major population in the city is receiving potentially hazardous water,” Mr Monga claimed.
Mr Monga said the Delhi Jal Board could set up its own water quality control cell of international standards to monitor the quality of water being supplied to the city.
“Despite our repeated request the Delhi Jal Board has failed to take any action in checking supply of contaminated water. The impurities in the water supply are a mixing of sewer water with drinking water at several places. Consuming such water can cause health hazards such as gastrological diseases, typhoid, cholera and jaundice,” Mr Monga said.