NGT pulls up Delhi Jal Board, CPCB over ‘sewage-mixed drinking water’ in Janakpuri; orders fresh sampling

The directions have been passed by a four-member bench, headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava, in the wake of a complaint by the Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) in March this year, alleging that sewage had mixed with the drinking water due to corroded pipelines caused by a blocked sewer line.

According to the RWA, the DJB has been supplying “sewage mixed drinking water” to residents, and no serious remedial action has been taken yet. The issue has reportedly led to severe health implications for the community, with at least one resident hospitalised and later diagnosed with Hepatitis A and E, the RWA told the court.

In response to earlier directions by the tribunal on April 8, the CPCB was supposed to collect water samples from 10 affected houses and submit an analysis report. However, no such report has been submitted till date. During the May 14 hearing, the tribunal was informed that the samples were still “under analysis”—more than two weeks after being collected on April 29.

The tribunal noted that CPCB had failed to submit the sample analysis report on time, and it also took cognisance of a video recording played in court wherein a DJB official from Haiderpur Water Treatment Plant was found to admit that the water is unfit for human consumption. The officials were visiting a residence to collect drinking water samples when the clip was recorded.

The order stated: “Supply of drinking water which is unfit to the residents of the city is a very serious matter, but ignoring such a seriousness, the DJB has not taken expeditious action to remediate it and the CPCB has not done the needful to get the water sample report expeditiously…”

The residents had raised serious concerns over the integrity of the sampling process. They alleged that DJB officials had prior information about the sampling date and attempted to manipulate results by deploying super suction machines on April 27 and 28 to temporarily lower the sewage load. “This was done to manipulate water quality in the test results by the DJB officials,” the RWA alleged.

In light of these allegations, the tribunal directed the CPCB to conduct independent and fresh sampling. It has also summoned the concerned DJB chief engineer “so that some permanent solution can be found.” The Central Ground Water Authority has also been asked to conduct a fresh sub-soil water analysis of the area and submit a report.

“The DJB has filed the affidavit dated April 5, making an effort to show the action which has been taken but unless the water supplied to the residents of the concerned area is found to be fit for drinking, it cannot be said that adequate action has been taken by the DJB,” read the order.