Buckets and tubs filled with bore water at VP Singh camp near Okhla landfill site. Awakening
Jagran correspondent, South Delhi. Mountains of garbage are not only a challenge for MCD, but are also poisoning the earth and the water preserved in its womb. The groundwater around the Okhla, Ghazipur and Bhalswa landfill sites and the Engineered Sanitary Landfill at Bawana have been contaminated.
According to the recent report of CPCB, at some places the amount of TDS is up to four times more than the standard, while at some places the levels of calcium, sulphate and magnesium are also more than the standard. According to experts, drinking water with high TDS level for a long time can cause serious harm to health.
problem of skin diseases and itching in hair
Near the Okhla landfill site is VP Singh Camp with a population of eight thousand. There are six bores for drinking water supply. For the last eight years, people have been getting light yellow and smelly water from it. When the dirt settles down in this water stored in the tank, it is taken out from above and used to wash utensils and clothes. Skin diseases and problems like itching and hair fall are also occurring after bathing.
Ground water near landfill sites Bhalswa, Ghazipur and Okhla as well as the Engineered Sanitary Landfill at Bawana remains contaminated. In December 2021, Delhi Pollution Control Committee had taken samples from four-five places near each landfill site. In the report, the levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), calcium, sulphate and magnesium were found to be more than the prescribed limits.
According to experts, the main cause of groundwater pollution is unsegregated waste at landfill sites which seeps into the soil. The level of TDS increases only when the amount of potassium, chloride and sodium and toxic ions increases in water.
By drinking water with high TDS for a long time, the body comes in contact with many types of chemicals and toxins, which causes chronic diseases like cancer, liver or kidney failure, nervous system disorders. This not only weakens the immunity but can also cause congenital diseases in newborns.
Water conditions near the landfill site
(Source-DPCC)(Note- Quantity is mg/l and standard of TDS is 500, sulphate is 200 and manganese is 30)
A large part of the population of Shraddhanand Colony and Bhalswa Dairy area situated next to the Bhalswa landfill site is buying and drinking water. The taps here are spewing contaminated and foul smelling water. The reason for contaminated water coming from the tap is that the water supply lines going to the houses are passing through drains filled with dirty water. Wherever water supply pipelines are damaged, dirty water from drains gets mixed with the drinking water supply.
In such a situation, the possibility of an Indore-like incident cannot be ruled out. Ground water obtained from bore is also not fit for drinking. For the last 12-15 years, people have been buying water and drinking it, or quenching their thirst from Jal Board tankers.
The health of those who are forced to drink tap and underground water often deteriorates. Some people have stomach upset and some have to face skin related problems. People say that they know that the air and water here have been spoiled due to the mountains of garbage, so they avoid consuming underground and tap water as much as possible.
Foul smelling yellow water in VP Singh camp for eight years
VP Singh Camp is situated closest to Okhla Landfill site. The population of this four decade old camp is approximately seven thousand. There are six bores for water supply. There are four bores in A and D Block towards Pul Prahladpur, there is also supply of Ganga water for drinking. Whereas people of B and C block are dependent on two bores.
When the bore is run in the morning and evening, yellow and fishy smelling water comes out. This situation has persisted for the last eight years. It is used only for washing utensils and clothes. This causes problems like skin rashes, itching and hair fall after bathing. To drink, people either have to bring water from far away or buy it.
According to local residents, the Water Board took water samples several times on complaint, but what came in the report is not known till date. After complaints from public representatives, Jal Board tankers have started coming here since last one year. They also come sometimes at an interval of two days and sometimes three days. If needed in between, buying remains the only option.
This situation was found near Ghazipur landfill site
Delhi Jal Board supplies water from borewells in Mulla Colony, Rajveer Colony, Kondli, Ghazipur Murga Mandi and Fish Market and Ghazipur Dairy Farm. People have also installed submersible pumps in many areas.
There is a problem of contaminated water in these areas. It is common here for people to get stomach infections after drinking contaminated water. Local people allege that there is foul smell in the water. Forget about drinking, this water is not even used for household purposes.
People spoke about contaminated water?
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Based on our complaint, the Jal Board team has taken samples eight times so far. What is in the water and what is not, was never told. This water is kept in the vessel. When the dirt settles at the bottom, water is poured out from the top and clothes and utensils are washed with it.
-Bhagwan Devi, VP Singh Camp
Ground water has been contaminated due to the landfill. Many people have installed submersibles in their homes. They are falling ill after drinking the same contaminated ground water. There is problem in teeth and stomach. I am also suffering from both these diseases. The surrounding area is supplied from borewells instead of the Delhi Jal Board plant.
-Abdul Rehman, Mulla Colony
Hardly a day goes by when contaminated water does not arrive in the area. Many times sewer water gets mixed with Delhi Jal Board water. Due to this, problems like stomach infection, stomach ache and vomiting occur. It takes five to six days to recover. Everyone has installed water purifier in their house.
The water was fine till about eight years ago. After that yellow water started coming with foul smell. Even water purifier is not able to clean it. This causes problems like itching and hair fall while bathing. Therefore, this water is used only for washing utensils and clothes. To drink we have to buy water from outside.
-Amar Jha, VP Singh Camp
The water coming from the water board line is also not fit for drinking, often black-yellow colored contaminated and smelly water comes. Submersible has been installed for ground water, but this water is also not fit for drinking. Therefore, we quench our thirst by buying a 40 liter can of water for Rs 50. Underground water is used for bathing, washing utensils and clothes.
-Sunil Kumar, Shraddhanand Colony, Bhalswa
The water supply line of the Jal Board coming from Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar often gets damaged, due to which dirty water is supplied to the entire area. In the area, underground water is mostly used for domestic needs. One has to buy water to drink.
-Irfan, Durga Chowk, Bhalswa Dairy