New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI) Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav has written to the lieutenant governor and chief minister alleging an acute shortage of drinking water at Israel Camp in Rangpuri Pahadi area of south Delhi, and sought urgent intervention to address the crisis amid the ongoing heatwave conditions.
In his letter, Yadav said more than 20,000 residents were facing hardship due to inadequate water supply in the settlement.
“The heatwave, coupled with extreme shortage of water, has turned the narrow lanes of the camp into a zone of physical and mental trauma for children and the elderly alike,” he said.
He added that residents, belonging largely to economically weaker sections, were unable to afford bottled water and were dependent entirely on public supply.
Yadav alleged that despite the camp being a notified cluster under the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), basic civic amenities were not being ensured.
He also claimed that submersible borewells installed in the area had been sealed by officials, worsening the situation.
Referring to court directions, he said a Delhi High Court order dated April 7 had directed the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to deploy 15 water tankers of nine kilolitres capacity daily, but only six to seven tankers of smaller capacity were being supplied.
“This amounts to willful disobedience and renders the concerned authorities liable for contempt of court,” Yadav said.
He further cited Supreme Court observations, stating that “the Right to Clean Drinking Water is an integral part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution.” Yadav urged authorities to increase tanker supply on an immediate basis and also proposed long-term relief measures, including installation of water taps connected to an existing DJB line near an MCD school located around 50-60 metres from the camp.
He also demanded deployment of at least 30 large-capacity water tankers daily to meet the minimum requirements of residents during the summer. PTI MSJ KVK KVK
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