Gurgaon: Senior citizens in Block E affected by poor water supply to Sector 21

For almost three months, the residents of Block E of Sector 21 has been getting low water pressure and the Haryana urban development authority (Huda) has blamed the power discom Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitaran Nigam (DHBVN) for frequent power outages resulting in shortage of water supply

Senior citizens, mostly retired defence personnel, residing in Block E of Sector 21 have been badly hit by the persistent water shortage in the area. They said that they have met a number of officials in the last four days to seek respite from the acute water shortage that the authorities claim has been resolved.

A resident of Sector 21 points to his empty water tank. Around 350 families in the area are relying on private tankers. (Parveen Kumar/HT)

Around 350 families in the area have been dependent on water tankers for almost three months due to the water shortage. The senior citizens alleged that water supply from the Sector 22 boosting station is not being supplied to them as they are not on the priority list due to their age.

“The civic agencies must think because of our old age we will not come out on the roads and protest like other residents do. However, if the problem is not resolved we will hold a much bigger protest,” said Colonel (retd) RL Mann, a Block E resident.

For almost three months, the block has been getting low water pressure and the Haryana urban development authority (Huda) has blamed the power discom Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitaran Nigam (DHBVN) for frequent power outages resulting in shortage of water supply.

“We have been paying Rs300 a day for water, but have been suffering for the last three months. This is not fair. We have met all the officials and have told them that we find it very difficult to sit outside in the afternoon on roads looking for water tankers,” said SK Kapoor, another retired defence personnel residing in the sector.

“We were told that the Sector 22 boosting station has some issues and the water supplied by Huda has low pressure, due to which water reaches only Sector 22 residents,” said Kethki Agarwal, another Block E resident.

“We have deployed two people at the boosting station to ensure proper and balanced water supply in the sectors,” said SS Rohilla, spokesperson, MCG.

On Thursday, Huda’s executive engineer visited the area and assured residents that the issue will be resolved within a week.

Residents said they have been waking up 3am to fill water as they have been getting the supply at odd hours in the past one week and in very little quantity.

“If the situation remains the same for another week, private water suppliers will start charging more as the demand will increase,” said Naina Kotwal, another resident.

According to Huda officials, supply has been disrupted over the last few days due to the shifting of a master pipeline from Iffco Chowk. However, water supply has been affected in the sector since January when work on the city’s master pipelines began. The shifting of utilities to enable construction of underpasses on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway further hit supply.