Dengue-hit Rohini refuses to drain out stored water

But this very practice now poses a danger. Because mosquitoes breed in these water containers,leading to a spike in typhoid and dengue cases.

This has the residents in a fix. “Mosquitoes breed in these containers and there is risk of disease. But what can we do? We either fall sick or go thirsty,’’ Santosh,a resident,said.

“Residents of Pooth Kalan even blocked the road three months ago to demand regular supply of water. But nothing came of it,’’ Hema said,adding that Rohini Sector 19 and 21 too had similar problems.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Thursday said that municipal wards in Rohini were the worst affected by dengue. So far,397 cases and three suspected dengue deaths have been reported from Rohini. With cases mounting,Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad called a meeting of civic and government officials on Thursday and appealed to people not to store water in open containers.

North corporation officials attempted to empty water containers in the slums of Budh Vihar area,but were turned away by residents. “How does the government think we will survive without water?’’ a resident said.

“Officials from the corporation came here to empty stored water,but we didn’t allow it,’’ another resident said.

“I have lived here 20 years and water is a perennial problem. The tap water comes every two days. When the water tankers come,people start fighting. You are lucky if you get water,’’ Krishna,a slum resident of Rohini Sector 20,said.

“In a family of five,at least three are sick all the time. In my family,my mother and brother have fallen sick. We have no option but to store water. If the tankers don’t come for several days,we have to go to a petrol pump 5 km away to get water,’’ Santosh said.

Choked drains and garbage strewn everywhere compound the issue. “Civic officials have not done any fumigation here,’’ Rajrani,another resident,said.

At a slum near Suleman Nagar,a water tanker has turned up after days. “We have filled water in every container we own. We use this water to bathe and drink. But this will last only a day or two,’’ Rizwan,a resident,said.

Delhi Jab Board senior officials claim that Pooth Vihar have water pipeline connections. “Water pipeline extensions have been provided in Pooth Vihar and Budh Vihar-I. In Budh Vihar-II,water tankers are sent regularly. At least 10 tankers are provided in such areas,’’ a DJB official said.