Shortage sparks protests

In the Mehrauli area,people protested against a “de-encroachment drive” by the DDA. Protesters blocked the traffic on the Mehrauli-Gurgaon road for at least two hours. The police said the residents of Bapu Colony in Pandi Village were warned on June 22 that they were illegally occupying DDA land and that encroachments would be demolished the following day. On June 23,DDA officials demolished about 30 houses,leaving residents angry. On Wednesday,when a DDA team reached the spot to continue with the demolitions,people protested and even pelted stones at the officials.

In Kondli and Rajbir Nagar in East Delhi,people protested against water shortage. No violence was reported in the area.

In the Najafgarh area,people protested outside the police station after officials refused to register a murder case. The body of Jagbir Singh (21) was found in a drain near an ashram on Nangloi road. The police said Singh was reported missing on Tuesday morning. His body has been sent for a postmortem. The police said a case of murder,if required,will be registered after the report comes in.

Opposition stages walkout
The BJP staged a walkout at the beginning of the budget session on Wednesday in protest the shortage of water in the city. The Opposition also demanded that there be an immediate discussion on the matter.

Tughlaqabad MLA Ramesh Bidhuri said the water shortage in his area had led to irate residents blocking roads and staging protests at DJB service centres in the area. Vidhan Sabha Speaker Yoganand Shastri directed officials to look into the matter in Bidhuri’s constituency.

Sheila Dikshit,also the chairperson of the DJB,later told the media that the level of water in Bhakra Dam had dipped considerably,which has led to the water shortage. “We are trying by all means to meet the shortfall but there will be a water shortage in this weather,” she said.

Bad planning,says Malhotra
Criticising statements made by Dikshit in the Assembly on Tuesday that the Yamuna cannot be cleaned before the Commonwealth Games,Leader of the Opposition V K Malhotra said: “This is an example of bad planning and not implementing schemes on time. The Games Village is situated right next to the river and the dirty river will surely leave a bad impression on tourists.” He said the party will send a delegation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,asking him to intervene in the matter.