'DDA can't stop water theft due to public and politicians'

NEW DELHI: DDA cannot stop illegal tapping of piped water because of "public resistance and intervention of local politicians". This admission was made by the Authority in a written response to a Dwarka resident complaining about irregular water supply to his area.
The complainant, a resident of Nasirpur in Dwarka, had filed RTI applications requesting details of where the water from a pumping station meant for his area is going.DDA, in its reply, did own up to illegal tapping of water but has claimed helplessness in face of local pressure.
"The water pumping station from Madhu Vihar supplies potable water to the residents of Nasirpur in Dwarka. It's a widely-known ground truth that most of the water supply is drained out illegally on the way at Mahavir Enclave. However, I wanted DDA to acknowledge the fact and in the RTI response it has accepted the fact that water is being pilfered in unauthorized colonies," said Arun Banerjee, Nasirpur resident.
Banerjee, who has been living here since 2008, says he's hardly witnessed a full day of water supply through the piped connection. Nasirpur is home to 30,000 residents who stay at its various co-operative group housing societies and DDA flats. Most of the water demands are met in the area, Banerjee says, through borewell water and tankers.
In its reply to Banerjee, DDA has said, "It is again informed that, in spite of best efforts reportedly made to get these illegal connections removed, DDA could not succeed due to the public resistance and intervention of local politicians."
"I circulated the RTI response in various ministries and offices, and asked them why DDA does not stop the supply altogether. It cannot stop its pilferage despite taking money from us for an assurance of supply," Banerjee said.