In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing water crisis in Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Swati Maliwal on Saturday threw ‘polluted water’ outside the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, alleging that the same water is being supplied to residents of the national capital. Maliwal’s protest follows days of accusations by the AAP that Delhi is grappling with a severe water shortage due to alarmingly high ammonia contamination in the Yamuna river. This contamination, primarily attributed to industrial waste from Haryana, has crippled water treatment plants, leading to unsafe water supplies for citizens.
Maliwal, who claims to have collected the water from a resident’s home in Sagarpur, Dwarka, described the situation as dire. “I went to a house and black water was being supplied there. I filled that black water in a bottle and I brought that water here, at the Chief Minister’s residence,” she said, highlighting the alarming state of the water supply.
Expressing frustration with the government’s response, Maliwal stated, “Since 2015, we have been hearing that next year everything will be fine. They have no shame. Will Delhi drink this?”
The former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson issued a stark warning to the Chief Minister, stating that the water she brought was just a sample. “If she does not fix the water supply of the entire Delhi within fifteen days, I will bring a whole tanker full of such water,” she warned.
Adding a touch of sarcasm, Maliwal stated, “I am leaving this water for her. She can bathe with this water, drink this water or purify her sins. Chhath Puja is coming. Today it is Govardhan Puja, yesterday it was Diwali and this is the condition of Delhi. Who can stay alive after drinking this water? The Chief Minister is also the Water Minister. Is her job just to make fun by holding ten press conferences every day?”
Last week, AAP had highlighted the severe disruption of water supply in Delhi, stating that the water treatment plants (WTPs) at Sonia Vihar and Bhagirathi were struggling to cope with the ammonia content in the Yamuna’s raw water. The party has called for immediate action to address the contamination and ensure safe drinking water for the city’s residents.
Maliwal’s protest is a stark reminder of the growing public frustration with the water crisis in Delhi. It remains to be seen how the Chief Minister and the AAP government will respond to this latest escalation and address the concerns of the city’s residents regarding the safety and availability of clean water.
