DJB begins pipeline replacement in East Delhi following Delhi HC rebuke over dirty water supply

New Delhi, Jul 9 (PTI) The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has initiated a project to replace decades-old water pipelines in eastern parts of the national capital, days after being pulled up by the high court for supplying "sewage-mixed" water to residents of the area.

According to DJB officials, tenders have been issued to replace 35-year-old pipelines in several localities, including Yojna Vihar, Jagriti Enclave, Shanti Mohalla, Jhilmil Industrial Area, Dilshad Garden, Gandhi Nagar, and IP Extension.

The deadline to submit these tenders is between July 14 and July 16. Once finalised, the groundwork is expected to begin promptly.

Inspections had revealed that corroded and outdated pipelines were the primary cause of water contamination in these areas. The DJB aims to replace the pipeline.

In Yojna Vihar's C-block, where the problem caused by "sewage-mixed" water is particularly severe, the DJB will carry out replacement work at a cost of Rs 22 lakh. The project is expected to be completed within two months after the work begins.

Similarly, in Jagriti Enclave, a new 300 millimetre pipeline will be installed to replace a damaged 100 mm line at an estimated cost of Rs 15 lakh.

"We expect the work to be completed in the next few days. Tenders have been floated, and the last date of submission is between July 14 and July 16. After finalising the tender, work will start on the ground," an official said.

On July 4, while examining a PIL filed by the residents of Yojna Vihar, Anand Vihar, and Jagriti Enclave, the Delhi High Court pulled up the DJB for supplying contaminated water in colonies and asked how the authorities could expect the citizens to "drink sewage-mixed water".

The bench directed officials that the work related to replacing old and damaged water supply pipes in and around these houses should be completed by August, and any failure would be viewed seriously by the court.

The pipeline upgrade project aligns with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's directive in May, when she chaired a high-level DJB meeting and emphasised the urgent need to modernise Delhi’s outdated water and sewer infrastructure.

"The city cannot run on outdated facilities. We will now begin phased replacement of damaged sewer and water pipelines," she had said at the time. PTI SSM SSM NSD NSD