NEW DELHI: The double whammy of Delhiites continues as city water scarcity is surging along with an acute heat wave. Despite taking various measures, the Delhi government was unable to control the water crisis in the city, as it is getting worse day by day.
The Sunday Guardian (TSG) visited Geeta Colony in East Delhi and witnessed people waiting in a long queue for their turn to a bucket full of water from the tanker as they were not getting an adequate amount of supply water. A lady named Madhuri standing in the queue told The Sunday Guardian that the government only provides half of the needed amount, and due to this shortage of water supply, we now depend on these water tankers.
Nazia Khan, another resident of Geeta colony, said, “There are a lot of problems regarding water in this area. We get only one tanker for the entire area. The tanker water is used for drinking and cooking purposes. Sometimes, we don’t even get the tanker, and we are forced to buy bottled water.”
The Sunday Guardian had witnessed a similar condition at Sangam Vihar in South Delhi. Karan Singh, a daily wage labourer, told The Sunday Guardian that it has been a month since “we have been facing water scarcity. We hardly received water once a day with marginal flow; eventually, we have to depend on the water tankers.” Similar conditions can be witnessed in north and south-west Delhi, including Mehrauli and Chattarpur, which are also facing significant water challenges.
TSG investigated the condition of Delhi government shelter homes during the severe heat wave and found a lack of water. At the Shakarpur Shelter Home near the railway line flyover by Akshardham Metro Station, an electric water dispenser was present but had no water cans. It was revealed that the water tanker had not arrived since the morning, leading to a shortage of drinking water. Naveen, who was resting inside the shelter home, mentioned that they would only have drinking water once the tanker arrived and the cans were refilled.
On the other hand, the Delhi government is trying their best to resolve the issue of water scarcity. In response to the water supply shortage in the national capital, the Delhi government assigned ADM/SDM level officers to each zone. These officers, accompanied by a team of Tehsildars and other officials, will serve as a ‘Quick Response Team’ to oversee the distribution of water tankers and address water-related complaints.
The Delhi government is continuously alleging the Haryana government for it. Delhi water minister Atishi Singh also met with Delhi Lieutenant Governor and raised this issue. Not only this, they also went to Apex Court regarding the matter.
The Supreme Court’s order to decreed the Himachal Pradesh government to release 137 cusecs of surplus water to Delhi with prior intimation to Haryana. It further directed the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) to measure water released by Himachal Pradesh at Hathnikund in Haryana.
Meanwhile, Water Minister Atishi once again accused the BJP-led Haryana government of deliberately and illegally halting the water supply to the national capital. Citing an affidavit submitted by the Haryana government to the court, she said, “The Haryana government has been lying about releasing adequate water. Their affidavit presents data on actual discharge of water, which has exposed their lie.” She also slammed Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena for blaming Delhi’s AAP government for non-maintenance of water canals and theft of water supply.
However, L.G. Saxena shared a post on social media handle X (formally Twitter) and said he had spoken to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and received assurances that his government had released water—in quantities required by law—to Delhi. “Water is being provided to Delhi as per allocated share,” he wrote, saying Haryana had done so “despite the state’s own constraints.”
On the other hand, the Delhi BJP alleged the Aam Adami Party-led Delhi government for not taking timely action to address the water shortage. The Delhi BJP claimed that the Kejriwal-led Delhi government was aware of the upcoming heat wave and the potential water shortage since April but failed to take concrete steps to mitigate the crisis. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva accused the AAP government and the private tanker mafia of playing a “game of loot” at the expense of the public.
Sachdeva, along with MP Yogendra Chandolia, filed a complaint regarding the theft and selling of water by the tanker mafia operations in the NCT of Delhi in connivance with the officials and elected representatives as part of a criminal conspiracy to cheat the general public and cause substantial loss of revenue to the government of the NCT of Delhi and wrongful gains to private persons and public servants in charge of and controlling water operations in Delhi.
Sachdeva said that the Delhi government has not made any effort to address the shortage on time. He added that the Kejriwal-led Aam Adami Party was busy with election preparations without concern for the people.”
An environmental expert, well-versed in Delhi’s water scarcity issues, emphasized to The Sunday Guardian that the city’s current water supply and distribution infrastructure is outdated and inadequate to meet the increasing demands of its expanding population. Numerous areas suffer from leaky pipes, inefficient distribution networks, and outdated storage facilities, resulting in significant water wastage. The expert pointed out that Delhi’s population growth has placed additional strain on its water resources. Rapid urbanization has encroached upon natural water bodies and green spaces, further diminishing groundwater recharge areas and exacerbating the urban heat island effect.
The expert stressed the need for the Delhi government to prioritise long-term solutions. This includes revitalising water bodies, implementing sustainable groundwater management practices, and investing in modernizing water infrastructure. They emphasised that adopting sustainable water management practices, alongside substantial infrastructure upgrades and active community involvement, is crucial to ensuring a water-secure future for the city and its residents.