New Delhi [India], August 9 : AAP leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, has written to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, highlighting the water crisis in Kalkaji caused by the submergence of the Giri Nagar Under Ground Reservoir (UGR) pumping station after a few hours of rain. She has charged the BJP-led government with "stalling and collapsing" within just six months, due to its "failure to protect critical infrastructure" and manage monsoon-related challenges, reads a press release from the party.
In her letter, LoP Atishi detailed 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 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, the release reads.
She warned that residents are staring 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 noted that the crisis had 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 the 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 shutdown of the pumping station, the matter has taken a turn for the worse."
The Delhi Assembly LoP stressed that this is not an isolated incident but part of a larger city-wide breakdown: "Just a few hours of rain has brought the entire city to a standstill. There is waterlogging everywhere. People who are travelling to celebrate Rakshabandhan are facing hours of traffic jams due to your Government's apathy."
She firmly rejected the idea that the crisis was caused by unavoidable weather, stating: "I am heartbroken to say that this situation is not 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."
Atishi urged immediate action: "Given the urgency of the matter, I urge you to give urgent directions to your PWD and Water Minister Shri 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."