Parched: Parts of Vasant Kunj without water for 5 days

NEW DELHI: Residents in and around south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj spent Janmashtami on Monday fretting over water.
Though Delhi Jal Board had issued an advisory cautioning the residents about disruption in water supply on Thursday and Friday, the situation has not normalised even five days later. DJB, however, brushed aside allegations by some residents that JJ colonies were being given preference over them.
“We got permission for an 18-hour shutdown on August 30-31 to complete the interconnection work of newly-laid 1,200mm water pipeline by diverting the existing line to Hazrat Nizamuddin metro station,” a DJB statement said.
Harjinder Saroha, vice-chairman, Vasant Kunj federation of RWAs, said the area has been suffering from water scarcity for the past five days. “We received a circular that the supply will be affected for two days due to repair work, but it is fifth day now, and normalcy is yet to resume. On Sunday, we received two tankers, but on Monday, even that was not available,” Saroha said, adding that even when the supply comes, only 50% is made available.
Jyoti Chanana, a resident of VK Sector B, said her sector, which is located on higher altitude, suffered the most.
“People are celebrating Janmashtami and we have been left to worry about water,” Chanana said.
The supply affected areas, including Greater Kailash, Defence Colony, Sarita Vihar, Moolchand, Sarai Kale Khan, Malviya Nagar, Chattarpur, Panchsheel Park and Lajpat Nagar.
A DJB official claimed the situation is stable in all other south Delhi areas, but since Vasant Kunj is located at the tail-end of the network, it is taking more time. “When such a large shutdown is executed, it takes a couple of days for flow to resume normalcy. I am sure that condition will be stable by Tuesday morning,” he assured.