Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, on Saturday wrote to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, highlighting a severe water crisis in Kalkaji caused by the submergence of the Giri Nagar Underground Reservoir (UGR) pumping station. She said the BJP-led government has failed to protect critical infrastructure of the city.
Atishi, in the letter, said that just a few hours of rain brought Delhi to a grinding halt — roads waterlogged, traffic at a standstill, and in many parts of the city, rainwater entering into people’s homes.
In Kalkaji, the situation turned critical when the Giri Nagar UGR pumping station, which supplies water to Kalkaji, Giri Nagar, Govindpuri, and Govindpuri Extension, was fully submerged. The pumps stopped functioning, resulting in a complete halt to water supply in these areas, she said.
She said that residents are facing at least 2-3 days of severe water shortage, with no alternate arrangements from the Delhi Government.
“This pumping station that supplies water to thousands of households is non-functional, and there is no alternate arrangement from your government either,” she wrote.
Atishi also noted that the crisis hit during the festival of Rakshabandhan, compounding the distress.
“Today, when the entire country is celebrating the important festival of Rakshabandhan, the people of Kalkaji are forced to face the brunt of breakdown of the water pumps in Giri Nagar UGR. There is already a severe water scarcity in the area, I had taken up this matter in the Vidhan Sabha yesterday as well. With the shutting down of the pumping station, the matter has taken a turn for the worse,” she said.
The Delhi Assembly LoP also stressed that this is not an isolated incident but part of a larger city-wide breakdown.
“I am heartbroken to say that this situation is not (because of) a natural calamity — this is the direct result of administrative negligence. Despite repeated warnings, your government has failed to safeguard critical infrastructure. It seems like in just six months, the four-engine BJP government has stalled and collapsed. Such a situation not only poses severe hardship for the residents but also raises concerns over the preparedness of the administration in handling monsoon-related challenges,” she added.
Atishi urged immediate action to deal with the situation.
“Given the urgency of the matter, I urge you to give urgent directions to your PWD and Water Minister Parvesh Verma to take immediate steps to restore water supply in the area. Otherwise, I along with the residents of the area will be forced to take to the streets for a solution,” she asserted.