KKN Gurugram Desk | East Delhi is battling an acute water crisis as intense summer heat, with temperatures soaring up to 45°C, cripples daily life in several localities. Long queues for tankers, overpriced bottled water, and contaminated supplies have left residents distressed and angry.

With the mercury touching 45°C, daily life in East Delhi has turned into a struggle for survival. The blazing heat has exposed severe cracks in the city’s water supply system, especially in densely populated colonies along the Yamuna river. A growing number of residents are reporting no water supply for days, forcing them to rely on costly bottled water or scramble for municipal tankers — when they arrive at all.

As temperatures break records, demand for water has surged. However, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has failed to meet the increased demand, citing infrastructural constraints and pipeline issues in several neighborhoods.

Mad Rush for Water Tankers Across Colonies

In areas like Gharoli B-Block, Dallupura, Bhadhana Mohalla, New Ashok Nagar, Brahmpuri, Noor-e-Ilahi, Welcome, Jafrabad, Chauhan Banger, Rani Garden, Sonia Vihar, Shiv Vihar, Prem Vihar, GTB Enclave, Sunder Nagri, Ghazipur, Garhi Mandu, Khajoori, Ambika Vihar, and Kheda Gaon, the situation is dire.

When water tankers from the DJB arrive, residents rush with buckets, bottles, and even makeshift containers. Yet, the supply is far from enough. Several colonies are receiving tanker water only once a day, and in some cases, not at all for consecutive days.

The erratic water tanker schedules have further fueled chaos. “There is no fixed timing. Sometimes tankers arrive early in the morning, sometimes in the evening, and sometimes not at all,” complained a resident of Sonia Vihar.

Bottled Water Sales Skyrocket as Residents Pay the Price

With no alternative, many residents are being forced to buy bottled water priced between ₹50 and ₹90 per bottle. For middle- and low-income families, this extra expense is becoming unsustainable.

Basic domestic chores like washing clothes, utensils, or even cleaning homes have been severely impacted. “We can’t cook, clean, or bathe regularly. We’re rationing water just like we used to during lockdowns,” shared a housewife from GTB Enclave.

Local legislators’ offices are flooded with 25 to 30 complaints daily, according to reports. However, frustrated citizens say there is no clear timeline or action plan to restore regular supply.

Illegal Water Plants Thrive Amid Shortage

Taking advantage of the crisis, illegal water suppliers have ramped up operations. In neighborhoods where unauthorized water bottling plants are operating, demand has surged by 30–40%, according to local sources.

“There are not enough bottles to meet the demand,” said one plant operator. Many people are now buying empty bottles from local markets and refilling them directly from these unauthorized sources.

While these underground suppliers fill a desperate need, there is a growing concern about the quality of water being distributed, with several residents reporting health issues linked to contaminated water.

Contaminated Water Adds to Residents’ Woes

In multiple locations, including Khajoori, Welcome, and Shiv Vihar, residents have complained of foul-smelling and visibly unclean water coming through the taps. Many have reported skin allergies and stomach-related infections.

“We can’t even trust the water we receive anymore,” said a resident of Brahmpuri. “Sometimes it’s muddy, sometimes it smells like sewage.”

The Delhi Jal Board, in response, admitted that high summer demand is stressing the system. A spokesperson confirmed, “Wherever pipeline supply is impacted, tankers are being deployed. We are working on identifying long-term solutions to stabilize the system.”

Shreshtha Vihar Hit by Month-Long Supply Disruption

In Shreshtha Vihar, located within the Vishwas Nagar Assembly constituency, the water crisis has persisted for over a month. Interestingly, the locality is home to many affluent families, traders, and small business owners — yet, half of the homes are receiving no piped water.

Residents are relying on water tankers and privately purchased bottles, despite repeated complaints to the Delhi Jal Board. The DJB has reportedly attributed the issue to a technical error in newly laid pipelines, citing incorrect level alignment as the root cause.

“We’ve called, emailed, and even met officials in person, but nothing has changed in four weeks,” said a local trader. “How can a city’s capital face such a basic crisis in 2025?”

Political Pressure Mounts, But Solutions Remain Distant

Despite growing outrage, there has been little visible response from elected officials. Local MLAs are under pressure but say they are also dependent on the DJB’s infrastructure to deliver solutions.

Sources suggest that the Delhi government is exploring emergency solutions, including temporary water storage units and additional tanker deployments. But critics argue that these are just band-aid fixes, not permanent solutions.

Urban planning experts have long warned that Delhi’s water infrastructure is outdated, poorly maintained, and unequipped to handle peak summer loads — especially with rising populations in East Delhi’s unauthorized and semi-legal colonies.

The unfolding crisis in East Delhi is a wake-up call not just for the city’s water management authorities, but also for the government’s urban policy approach. With climate change intensifying summer heat waves, demand for water will only rise in the coming years.