HC notice to Centre, DJB on water scarcity in Delhi's Dwarka

The Delhi High Court Wednesday issued notice to the central and Delhi governments, and civic agencies DJB and DDA on a plea seeking direction to authorities to take immediate steps to provide water to resident of Dwarka area of the capital.

A bench of Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Jayant Nath sought response by from authorities by May 15 while asking the Delhi Development Authority to bring the layout plan of the area on next date of hearing.

Dwarka area in west Delhi has been facing acute water shortage for the last 15 years, forcing residents to source 80 percent of water from private vendors. The plea filed by Dwarka forum that was representing 68 residents welfare association and 350 cooperative group housing societies sought the immediate steps to provide water to the residents.

Due to short supply of water, the resident are forced to pay a huge amount for procuring water from private vendors through water tankers, said the plea.

Claiming that the "officials of the Delhi government, DDA, DJB (Delhi Jal Board) are hand in glove with the private vendors and are making huge amount of profits", the plea contended that private vendors get easy access to water though the authorities claim to have shortage of water.

Each family have to shell out around Rs.2,500 per month alone on their water bills as the DDA supplies only 20 er cent of required water and the remaining 80 per cent is procured at extravagant price from private vendors.

Currently, water supply in Dwarka is carried out by the DDA. During the hearing, the DDA's counsel told the court that it was introducing 16 bore wells in the area and it has already have 66 bore wells.