The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has announced a scheduled 18-hour water supply disruption in the Rohini and Rithala regions due to ongoing maintenance work. The shutdown is expected to affect daily routines in several areas, including Rohini Sector-9, Sector-11, Sector-13, Sector-16, Sector-17, ESI Hospital, and Rithala Village. The water supply will be disrupted from 10 A.M. on September 25 until 4 A.M. on September 26 as a result of essential interconnection work on the 1100-mm diameter water main stemming from the Haiderpur Water Works-II facility. The DJB has urged residents to store adequate water in advance and use it judiciously throughout the period.
The disruption has raised concerns over the water supply infrastructure in northwest Delhi, which has been a subject of frequent complaints from residents. This maintenance follows similar disruptions that impacted north and central Delhi, where a 12-hour water cut was imposed on September 20 due to line repairs. The DJB has assured the public that water tankers will be available upon request through its helpline. However, the lack of immediate access to water could significantly impact local households and businesses, with the potential for greater disruption if adequate measures are not taken by the civic body to ensure timely service restoration. From a civic perspective, this incident underscores the increasing demand for reliable water infrastructure in Delhi’s growing urban population. With frequent water shortages and supply disruptions, the pressure on the DJB to modernise and maintain the city’s water distribution system has never been greater. Ensuring a seamless water supply is critical for sustaining daily life in densely populated areas like Rohini and Rithala. The public’s reliance on the DJB to provide water tankers on request may not fully compensate for the inconvenience, especially as similar water cuts have occurred in other parts of the city.
Water management has become a pressing issue in urban centres like Delhi, where high population density and outdated infrastructure exacerbate the problem. The current shutdown offers a window of opportunity for the DJB to explore more sustainable solutions, such as rainwater harvesting systems and improvements in pipeline technology to reduce the frequency of such disruptions. In the face of climate change, sustainable water management practices are essential not only for improving access but also for conserving vital resources in an increasingly water-stressed city. The DJB’s response to these challenges will likely determine how effectively Delhi can manage future supply disruptions and adapt to growing urban demands.
