In Trilokpuri Colony, pipelines are dry, forcing residents to rely on costly private tankers; In south Delhi, tanker prices as high as Rs 5,000
In the heart of Trilokpuri Colony, located in the eastern part of the national capital Delhi, a grim reality unfolds daily for its residents — a persistent and debilitating water crisis. Despite being surrounded by pipelines, a substantial portion of residents rarely see water flow through their taps. This dire situation has pushed the people into a cycle of hardship, relying heavily on expensive private tankers and sporadic deliveries from the Delhi Jal Board (DJB).
“A person earning Rs 10,000 is spending an average of Rs 3,000 on water every month. This has been our misfortune for decades. There is a pipeline here, but water has not reached our slums to date,” says 24-year-old resident of the colony Rohit Sirswal.
The colony previously had hand-cranked taps, but they were all marked in red and removed. Now the inhabitants survive only on government and private tankers that provide questionable quality water, said Sirswal.
“Water from DJB tankers is not drinkable. Children fall ill, but we are helpless as we have to do all kinds of daily chores with this water. Not everyone can afford to buy water,” he said.
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For many families in the concrete slums of Indira Camp in Trilokpuri Colony, an arduous quest for water begins at the crack of dawn. At 9 am, three DJB tankers arrive one after the other near Indira Camp, a slum with a population of over 1,400. Each tanker holds about 10,000 litres of water, which will be emptied in the next 45 to 50 minutes. One tanker supplies water to the houses located on a maximum of two streets
Everyone looks forward to seeing the DJB tankers. Cans and bottles are quickly filled with water and long pipes are hauled out into the streets to transport it. Children are used to filling their own cans and pipes with water from tankers.
Every day, men, women and children from every family in Indira Camp spend 4 to 5 hours filling water from the DJB tanker into cans, bottles and buckets kept in the houses.
“When the tanker arrives, we collect water one at a time, but there are often heated arguments among us women about who fills more water or goes first,” said resident Sunita. “After that, the tanker does not arrive for four to five days. We have to purchase water in 20-litre jars for Rs 20-40 from those who supply water via submersible pumps nearby.”
Residents of Indira Camp explain that not everyone has equal access to water. Some have more storage space, while others have little. Given the slum’s population, the average amount of water per person is less than 50 litres.
Jagdish, who has lived in Indira Camp for over three decades and works in catering, lives with his five family members in a narrow lane. He is installed a 500-litre water tank on his rooftop. He spent Rs 5,000 last year on a motor to transfer water from the tanker to the tank.
“Sometimes the tank fills with 100 litres, sometimes even less. We have to make it last for three to four days, because if we are stuck dealing with water all day, how will we get any work done?” Jagdish asked.
Sirswal said that on the days the DJB tanker does not come, they have to fill four to five 20-litre jars with water from an RO shop two to three kilometres away and bring them home. The water from the DJB tanker is not potable, but they are forced to make do with it.
“The people who live in this slum earn Rs 12,000-15,000 a month on average. Buying a jar of water costing Rs 20-40 means spending up to Rs 3,000 a month on water,” he said.
Mahavir, 60, who has lived in Indira Camp for three decades, said that tankers are their only reliable water source. When the tanker does not arrive, they are forced to purchase water.
“The area’s water supply line was laid ten years ago. At that time, there were no large houses in the colonies. There are now four- or five-story houses, each with large tanks and powerful motors. As a result, water does not reach impoverished households like ours. Water arrived after the supply line was laid, but only for one year; there has been no water since,” Mahavir said.
58-year-old Maha Singh, a resident of Block 2 in Trilokpuri Colony, said that water is supplied to their houses through the DJB line for two hours in the morning and evening. However, the tubewell through which they get their water supply is of very poor quality. The water smells of sewage and contains sand and mud particles, making it unsuitable for use.
Singh’s family ends up having to purchase water for drinking. Private tankers are also available, but they charge Rs 2,000-2,500 for an entire tanker. “How can anyone buy so much water alone? We have to arrange for them on any family function,” said Singh.
Singh buys five to six jars of 20 litres each for Rs 20 for drinking and cooking every day, spending Rs 100-150 rupees daily. The faily spend more than Rs 3,000 a month on water alone.
Local people say that there is a shortage of water in Trilokpuri’s Blocks 3, 4, 5 and 6 as well. There is no water supply. Some people in the area have installed submersibles. Private tankers fill water through these submersibles and water is also sold in jars.
Private tankers filling water from submersibles
Meanwhile, private tankers in Delhi have several requirements before providing water, even if you are willing to pay exorbitant fees. They will only provide water on the ground floor and refuse to supply water above that level. They claim that the water is bore water, which is safe and usable.
Down to Earth (DTE) contacted a private tanker called Rajput Water Supplier in Khichdipur, Delhi. They provide water tankers for both residential and commercial purposes. They stated that they do not supply water under 10,000 litres and only provide service for one full tanker of water at a cost of Rs 5,000. They will not provide their service for filling a single 1000-litre water tank; only if ten tanks are filled will they send their tanker to the Khichdipur area.
Similarly, a private water tanker stands in the middle of the road, supplying water to the Govindpuri extension. DTE contacted the owner of the private tanker about water supply and was told that the operators supply water to Madangir and Kailash Colony, but not to Sangam Vihar.
A 50-year-old man named Ajay, sitting in an empty shop near the tanker, said there is a shortage of water at the moment and 8,000-litre tankers are available for Rs 2,500. When DTE inquired about the source of water, he confirmed the availability of water from the borewell on the roadside, claiming this water is not only clean but will also be delivered to the house tank via tanker. He also said two of his vehicles deliver water every three hours.
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Two private tankers earning between Rs 20,000-30,000 during the current water shortage in Delhi, according o estimates. In East Delhi, 20-litre jars of water have replaced private tankers. In South Delhi, private tankers are still openly supplying water.
Government tankers also taking advantage of the helpless
The water shortage in South Delhi is so severe that more than 50 tankers of DJB stand in a queue near Greater Kailash at 6 am. They fill the tanks one by one and go to several localities. DTE met some of the complainants from the most troubled Sangam Vihar area at Jalvayu Vihar DJB station.
Mansi, who is still in school and her mother have been making rounds of DJB for water for the last three days. She is a resident of Church Gate, Lane No. 9, Sangam Vihar. Mansi said three days have passed, but no government tanker has come to deliver water to her house. “Private tankers ask for Rs 1,000 to 1,200; we can’t spend so much money daily,” she said.
But, being helpless, sometimes they have to buy water from private tankers. Mansi further said the DJB tankers also ask Rs 20 for filling a 200-litre drum privately, even though this water is supposed to be free.
“If we refuse to pay, the tankers will stop coming. All of the nearby houses are very upset. Last year, the water scarcity was less severe than it is this year. Working people and children on their way to school are wandering around Delhi, looking for water these days,” she said.
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