Delhi Minister Atishi Writes to Chief Secretary over Complaints of Water Contamination, Sewer Overflow in Capital – News18

Delhi’s water minister Atishi on Friday wrote a letter to the chief secretary over complaints of sewer overflow, dirty water, and pipeline leaks coming from all over the city, giving a 48-hour deadline for resolution.

In her letter, Atishi — the Delhi Jal Board chairperson — said multiple complaints had been received in the previous 24 hours regarding sewer overflow, water contamination, and water pipeline leakages.

“I’m receiving complaints from all over Delhi regarding sewer overflow, water contamination and water pipeline leakages. Have given strict directions to the chief secretary to resolve these problems within 48 hours and to ensure that long-term solutions are initiated within a week,” she said in the letter.

The minister mentioned that similar directions had been issued to the Delhi Jal Board CEO and other board members.

“Since sending the complaints to CEO Delhi Jal Board and to the Members in DJB has borne no results, I will now be sending all Delhi Jal Board-related complaints to you. It is now your responsibility to resolve these issues,” the minister said.

Atishi said the Delhi Jal Board has more than 10,000 unresolved complaints and added that she did not receive any inspection report.

“Despite my instructions that inspection reports of the CEO, chief engineers and other officers have to be sent to me every Monday, I have not received a single inspection report,” Atishi wrote.

She further mentioned that despite bringing the complaints to the CEO’s notice, the situation on the ground has not changed.

“I am shocked that senior Delhi Jal Board officers have not been able to take any long-term corrective action in the matter despite recurring complaints. In the absence of an effective public grievance system, the people of Delhi are being forced to live in inhuman conditions,” she said.