Burning cash, breaching law to keep taps flowing

The staircase leading up to businessman Akash Sharma’s apartment in a Sector 23 housing society used to be lined with potted plants till about two years ago. Since then, the number of pots has dwindled for obvious reasons.

The staircase leading up to businessman Akash Sharma’s apartment in a Sector 23 housing society used to be lined with potted plants till about two years ago.

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Since then, the number of pots has dwindled for obvious reasons.

For a family closely monitoring and trying to ration consumption of water by each member, keeping potted plants is verily a luxury.

“Water is scarce. There’s not enough for everyone in the family. How could we set aside some for the plants? They had to go,” said Sharma, 34, who moved to Rohini about five years ago.

Water shortage also compels Sharma to buy packaged drinking water from the neighbourhood convenience store. During the last two summers, in which the water supply has worsened significantly, the family’s monthly bill for potable water has touched Rs 500.

“There are times when there is absolutely no supply for an entire week. What can one do in such a situation? We are forced to buy water in such circumstances,” Sharma said.

Fed up with irregular supply, Sharma and a few neighbours invested Rs 16,000 in a submersible pump. “Use of submersible pumps is not allowed. But then, there’s no alternative. Practically, everyone has one around here.”