The Hindu : New Delhi News : NGO paints a gloomy picture on Delhi water front

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Friday, Mar 02, 2007
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New Delhi

NGO paints a gloomy picture on Delhi water front

Staff Reporter

Chloride, nitrate, iron, faecal matter found in water: Report

NEW DELHI: Claiming that 11 areas in the Capital receive water unfit for human consumption, Hazard Centre, an organisation that works in resettlement and slum areas, has accused the Delhi Jal Board of failing to provide potable water to these areas even a year after they were found to receive non-potable water.

The organisation said it would collect samples of water from these areas for a second round of tests to ascertain its quality.

Based on the study of water samples from five slum clusters and six resettlement colonies, a report prepared by the organisation pointed out to the presence of contaminants like chloride, nitrate, iron and even faecal matter in the water.

Water sampling was done during the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons in 2005 in 11 localities including Bawana, Bhalaswa, Madanpur Khadar, Molarbund, Tigri, Bakkarwala, Hastsal, Indira Camp No. 1, Indira Camp No.5, Sant Ravidas Camp and Kanak-Durga.

The report released last year indicated that water quality in resettlement colonies was in many cases worse than that supplied in slums. "The bacteriological analysis shows that of the 53 samples tested, 36 are faecally contaminated. Water provided to slums and resettlement colonies, from both public and private sources, is not at all fit for drinking."

"The pre-monsoon results show that there is not a single potable sample in the resettlement colonies, while the monsoon results show potable samples in meagre quantities," it added.

Qualitative analysis of the samples had revealed that apart from sporadic and inadequate water supply there was no establishment of new water treatment plants to meet the demand, the old distribution system was poorly maintained, leakages in the existing supply system paved the way for contaminants and flow of water was without adequate pressure. "Out of the 77 water samples tested in both the seasons, only nine water samples are fit for drinking ," the study had noted.

Accusing the public water utility of failing to provide potable water to slum dwellers and resettlement colonies, Dunnu Roy of the Hazard Centre said: "The same authority that provides clean water to the upper classes, provides bore well water and untreated reservoir water to the lower classes. "

A senior Jal Board official declined to comment on the report.

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