Spending Rs 8,000 for bottled water

Their monthly water bill is more than their electricity bill and car fuel bill put together. Over the past five years, the Khanna family from Lajpat Nagar III has spent close to Rs 4 lakh on buying bottled water.

Their monthly water bill is more than their electricity bill and car fuel bill put together. Over the past five years, the Khanna family from Lajpat Nagar III has spent close to Rs 4 lakh on buying bottled water.

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"The water we get is highly contaminated. It gives a putrefied smell. We have been ordering 20 litre mineral water bottles every day for a family of 15 members. Every month we spend Rs 8,000 on bottled water," said CP Khanna.

The family said the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) hasn't repaired the water lines in years.

"Every three months the DJB sends us a bill of Rs 8,000. The water is not fit for consumption," said Vinod Khanna, a Physics teacher at Delhi Public School, Mathura Road.

Water pipelines in Lajpat Nagar are in bad shape and joints have started corroding.

"I have been here for 40 years and haven't seen anyone from the DJB repairing the pipelines despite several complaints," said the senior Khanna.

"At times water supplied by the DJB is so filthy that it can't be used for washing clothes," said Shubla Khanna.