Delhi's water crisis has reached a boiling point, leaving residents battling not just to quench their thirst but to maintain basic hygiene and health standards. With the upcoming assembly elections set for February 5, residents from various neighborhoods across the capital, including affluent areas and underprivileged communities, are speaking out about the dire situation they face due to inadequate water supply and infrastructure failures.
According to reports from local residents, particularly those living near the New Delhi constituency, water scarcity has become one of the most pressing issues influencing their votes. Mukesh Kumar, who lives in one such neighborhood, lamented, "For years, we have been dealing with the same issue of contaminated water. The supply is irregular, and when water does come, it’s dirty, smells bad, and is often mixed with sewage. Many families have had to buy bottled water even for basic needs, which is financially draining for low-income households." This urgent need for clean drinking water is reflected among many citizens who are grappling with health fears stemming from unclean water supply.
Another resident, Geeta Kumari, provided insight on the seasonal struggle, stating, "Every summer, our water woes worsen. The taps run dry for days, and we are left scrambling to find water. People have to queue up for hours near tankers, and there are often fights because the supply is never enough." Such statements highlight the recurring water shortages crippling everyday life, forcing residents to make sacrifices for their families' basic needs.
The focus on water issues has been thrust under the spotlight as well for members of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) who were deployed to secure polling venues across Delhi. Reports show these officers are also facing their own lack of basic amenities, ranging from no drinking water to overflowing mobile toilets. A letter from Gyanendra Kumar Verma of the CRPF addressed to Delhi Police on January 23 outlined the severe shortcomings, saying, "The prevailing shortcomings are severely affecting the efficiency and morale of the personnel, which is why urgent measures are called for to provide the basic necessities as per ECI norms." The situation emphasizes how inadequate infrastructure impacts not only residents but also those tasked with ensuring public safety during elections.
Political leaders are not shying away from blaming each other for the water crisis. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra has been particularly vocal, accusing the AAP government of colluding with water mafias and forcing residents to rely on tankers to meet their daily needs. "There is chaos everywhere... People have to buy water and also pay private water bills," he stated during his visits to areas like Bijwasan. Such rhetoric aims to capitalize on the water crisis as both parties vie for public approval.
While local leadership, including AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal, has promised improvements and upgrades to the infrastructure, residents have expressed skepticism. Parvesh Alam, who has lived for over 30 years in his neighborhood, expressed disappointment, saying, "We tried to reach out to our MLA about the unavailability of water supply, but he has been absent from our issues for nearly a decade." His remarks highlight the frustrations of constituents who feel sidelined by elected officials.
This lack of attention resonates with Suraj Kumar, another local resident, who described the state of public toilets as unacceptable. "The public toilets are either locked for days or so dirty people avoid using them altogether. Women and the elderly suffer the most, overshadowed by these consistent failures to improve sanitation." His comments reveal the broader sanitation problem intertwined with the water crisis—one that's contributing to daily indignities for the community.
Away from urban centers, Tughlakabad, known for its historical significance, has also been plagued by infrastructure issues tied to community tensions and identity politics. Residents there, like Rita, indicated frequent water shortages leading to distress and frustration: "We go through water shortages almost every day... Even if the tanker arrives, we have to manage our use very carefully. It feels like we live under constant threat of scarcity." The persistence of these issues reveals deep-rooted infrastructural failures spanning decades.
The discontent over water, sanitation, and public infrastructure reflects on the upcoming elections, set to be highly competitive. With contenders such as AAP’s Kejriwal seeking to maintain control against BJP candidates, the electorate seems more determined than ever to hold leaders accountable for promises unmet. Many voters like Manoj Kumar, working as an e-rickshaw driver, feel abandoned by governance systems entrenched within corruption and inefficiency. “Jobs are scarce, and basic needs are often ignored. It's disheartening how little changes on the ground level,” Kumar lamented.
Despite the political rivalry, with each party trying to win over the electorate, the underlying issues remain. The lack of access to clean water, poor sanitation, and the failure to address basic needs is pushing residents to demand more. Moving forward, both the AAP and BJP must grapple with these systemic failures to meet the expectations of those they aim to serve. With heightened scrutiny and calls for accountability, the water crisis could prove pivotal in shaping the results of the upcoming Assembly elections.