In the heart of India’s capital, residents of East Delhi are grappling with a growing public health emergency—one that literally runs through their pipes. Across neighbourhoods like Trilokpuri, Shakarpur, and Pandav Nagar, households have been receiving murky, foul-smelling tap water that is reportedly unfit even for basic hygiene, let alone consumption.
Despite repeated complaints and sporadic interventions, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB)—the city’s primary water utility—has failed to stem the crisis, leading to rising health concerns and mounting civic frustration. The issue now threatens to escalate into a wider urban infrastructure failure with implications for sustainable urban living in the national capital.Residents describe the water as black, brown, or muddy, often accompanied by a strong stench reminiscent of untreated sewage. In Trilokpuri, one resident reported that the water runs dark when taps are first opened and clears only after prolonged flow—though the odour remains persistent. In Shakarpur, another neighbourhood plagued by poor water quality, residents say the supply is contaminated with dust and emits a combined smell of sewage and chlorine, indicating possible cross-contamination between drinking and wastewater pipelines.
The crisis is not confined to East Delhi. Earlier this month, a serious breach in water quality in Janakpuri, West Delhi, prompted judicial intervention. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) sharply criticised the DJB for allegedly allowing untreated sewage to mix with potable water, leading to at least one hospitalisation due to Hepatitis A and E. coli infection. The NGT has ordered the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to conduct independent water sampling across the area, warning against notifying DJB in advance to ensure transparency.Urban planners and environmentalists warn that Delhi’s crumbling pipeline infrastructure is emblematic of a broader failure to prioritise eco-friendly, inclusive water management. Corroded pipelines, unchecked industrial waste, and the lack of preventive maintenance have become a perfect storm threatening the health and dignity of millions.
In Pandav Nagar, a family was forced to purchase bottled water for weeks after their household reverse osmosis purifier failed to treat the increasingly translucent, whitish tap water. The financial strain of relying on bottled and tanker water is another hidden cost of the city’s inefficient civic systems—particularly on economically weaker households that cannot afford to mitigate the risks.The DJB has so far failed to issue a credible timeline for resolution, even as cases of waterborne illnesses rise. Experts stress the need for an urgent overhaul of the water supply system, including pipeline audits, rapid replacement of corroded infrastructure, and stricter oversight of industrial discharge and sewage management. Additionally, more equitable access to safe water must be ensured in both affluent and underserved localities, if Delhi is to become a truly sustainable and equitable city.
As Delhi heads into its most critical months for water demand, the stakes are high. Climate volatility, unchecked urban expansion, and institutional apathy could combine to deepen the crisis. Unless the government prioritises water quality and access, Delhi’s vision of becoming a future-ready, green metropolis will remain out of reach.
For now, residents continue to live with the daily risk of disease and indignity, hoping their complaints will turn into action—not just hearings and hollow assurances.
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