Photos: An anomalous struggle for water in Delhi’s Sanjay Colony

The day starts with clamouring neighbours rushing in towards a familiar yet inevitable chore. This is the story of Sanjay Colony at Delhi's Okhla Phase 2 area. Sanjay Colony has seen migrants coming in over nearly three decades and water shortage has been a constant gripe for just as long. With water tankers operating to fulfil the daily water quota for residents, the locality plays host to scenes of high octane drama with people fighting for one of life’s most basic requisites --water. ...read more

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Updated on Jun 14, 2019 09:25 AM IST

People fill their empty containers with water using lengths of hose pipe from a Delhi Jal Board tanker, at Sanjay Colony in Okhla Phase II, in New Delhi. The tankers arrive between 6 am and empty out by 7am, when everyone rushes at them to fill their buckets which often result in arguments and fights. The morning hours are most crucial to fill water as many residents head out to work during the day. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

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There are more than 5,000 houses in the area and the struggle for water has been present since over 30 years now. Locals say they have tried implementing bore wells in the area but the results remained unsatisfactory. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

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People hand over lengths of hose pipe to be used to fill water from a Delhi Jal Board tanker. Nearly 150 water tankers operate in the area between 6am to 11pm and each tanker carries 8000 litres of water. Raman, a resident of the colony said “Almost every day someone gets injured while filling their buckets from the tankers, there is also danger of falling under the tankers due to heavy rush.” (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

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A vendor sells empty earthen pots for storing water. People hoard water in advance in case the day’s tanker doesn’t show up, something that has happened several times said Kalyan Singh Yadav, a resident of Sanjay Colony. “If water totally runs out, we will take our buckets and go to the Delhi Jal Board office that is just a kilometer away.” (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

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People wait for their turn to fill empty containers. Located near the Okhla Industrial Area, most people living here work in industrial units and factories nearby. Due to routine morning struggles of fetching water most people lose time for work and other household requirements everyday. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

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Children carry water containers after filling them from a Delhi Jal Board tanker. Most of the people living here are migrant labourers and have their day’s work cut out. The water situation has only deteriorated over the years according to them. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

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A man bathes at his house in Sanjay Colony. There were water taps installed in the area a year back have hardly proved useful. The water from the tankers is instead what ends up fulfilling everyday household needs such as drinking, washing and bathing for most residents. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)