Boiling tap water for 30 minutes is his daily practice

Life at 80 is difficult for J.C Bakshi. For more than a year now, Bakshi is getting yellowish tap water that can't even be used for bathing.

Life at 80 is difficult for J.C Bakslahi. For more than a year now, Bakshi is getting yellowish tap water that can't even be used for bathing.

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Boiling tap water for 30 minutes every morning has become a routine. "I don't even use tap water for brushing teeth. It is so bad. Many people have taken ill in our colony due to water contamination," said Bakshi, a resident of K block, Lajpat Nagar III.

"Even water purifiers have proven ineffective in preventing diseases. Boiling remains the only option," he added.

Unlike many international cities, Delhi doesn't have a dedicated utility corridor with separate corridors for water and sewer lines.

"In our area the pipelines were laid nearly 30 years ago. Over a period of time they have rusted; sewage water gets mixed with drinking water supplied to our area," added Bakshi.

Residents claimed their complaints to the Jal board have fallen on deaf ears.

"During monsoons water-borne diseases touch an all time high in Delhi and we often get sewage in our tap water," the senior citizen said.