The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Delhi Government and the Delhi Jal Board to treat the plea as representation, which sought direction to conduct fresh assessment of water supply stations/Booster pumps/UGR in the territory of Government of Delhi, keeping in mind the demand for drinking water, which was going up with the increase in population.
The plea was filed by petitioner-in-person Ajay Gautam, seeking further directions for the constitution of a committee of experts to search/suggest/develop techniques and technology to stop contamination and mixing of sewage water in drinking water, within a time-bound period.
The matter was today listed before the Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh.
The petition further sought directions for submitting the status report with regard to the supply and contamination from water in every three months and water sampling for tracing out the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in city water on a daily basis.
“The total number of active water connections in Delhi as on January 31, 2018 is 22,31,648, as has been disclosed by the Revenue Management System of Government of Delhi. Short supply of drinking water and contamination in drinking water is a common problem in Delhi City,” the petition noted.
It said, “It is the Constitutional duty of every State Government to provide fresh and clean drinking water to its citizens in sufficient quantity. No one in Delhi would like to get 20,000 litres of water free of cost, especially when the water being supplied is muddy or mixed with sewer, contaminated, and not safe for drinking,” it added.
“A government cannot be allowed to play with the health and lives of the innocent people for their political gains. It also cannot adopt any such policy, which is harmful to the people. Government can charge for drinking water from the people, but they cannot be forced to drink contaminated water,” said the plea.