Mayur Vihar residents left at the mercy of DVB for water

The recently-concluded monsoon brought little respite to the residents of pocket-IV either. “There is no shortage of water,” says Rajan Srikantan, secretary of the residents welfare association here. The Delhi Jal Board constructed a tank with a capacity of one lakh gallons of water. And it is full of water.” Water that never reaches them.

“It’s like the curse of the Albatross: water-water everywhere not a drop to drink,” he adds resignedly. “The Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) is not installing the transformer to give power. And unless there is power, water cannot be lifted to each house”.

The trickling water has obliged even those residing on the colony’s ground floor to install booster pumps. “When even ground floor residents have installed boosters, how will water ever reach the tail end of the colony”, Srikantan points out. “According to their own admission there are as many as 1,200 boosters on the water line. The Jal Board officials too are powerless. Though they installed everything but the DVB is just sitting on our files and is not giving power,” he adds.

The residents have made several representations to the area’s representative in parliament Lal Behari Tewari. Though he is said to have promised them that he would come and meet them, the promise is yet to be fulfilled. “They will only come before the coming elections and try talking sweetly. But this time we will not get cheated. They have to energize the pump set now or face the consequences during elections,” threatens another resident requesting anonymity.

To cater to the needs of the 1,600-odd DDA flats in the locality, the Jal Board constructed a one lakh gallon capacity water tank and even installed a 50 horse-power pump set.

“The Jal Board finished its job six months ago, but the Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) has been sitting on their file. The indifferent attitude of the DVB is deplorable,” says Rakesh Saini, a resident of the pocket. “The DVB wanted Rs 10.50 lakh to be deposited with them for the power connection. Even that was done but nothing has been done despite our meeting with the DVB top brass including S.P. Aggarwal, member, technical,” Srikantan adds.

The residents complain that when they exert pressure on the local DVB officials through the board’s senior officials, they have to face severe load shedding. Given a choice between the sweltering heat and the physical labour of lugging heavy buckets to the fourth floor, the residents usually prefer the latter. “At least that way our children won’t suffer and can study at night,” they say. With even the chief minister Sahib Singh not coming to their rescue despite persistent requests, the residents are now planning to embrace the last resort: move the Delhi High Court for redressal of their long-standing grievance.