Their water woes have only begun

Industrial workers living in Okhla bicker for clean water as bore-wells continue to pump out water unsuitable for drinking. In another colony close-by, Delhi Jal Board tankers come once a week, making summer heat increasingly unbearable for local residents
Shaweta Anand

While interacting with workers of Harkesh Nagar and Sanjay Colony, both located next to posh south Delhi, we realised that their lives were sagas of pain and gloominess. Rising mercury does make this season difficult for one and all, but water woes in these poor, working class colonies might only worsen as summer heat slowly gets to them.

"I have not taken a bath since three days and I am also thirsty for water," said Pramila, resident of Sanjay Colony, who was one amongst many we interviewed on 11 April, 2010, during a visit to Okhla phase II as part of initiating jalsamvaad (dialogue on the theme of water) by members of a volunteer group that goes by the same name-- Jalsamvaad.

"It's not just lack of clean and sufficient water that worries us every summer. It is about so many problems directly related with it," said Rita, resident and activist living in Harkesh Nagar in an interview to Hardnews. Pointing towards people crossing unmanned railway tracks behind her, she told us that a number of people get killed or maimed every year because they have to make it to the other side to carry back potable water from the sewage treatment plant. 

"Every day people are in a hurry to get their share of water. Even during wee-hours of morning, you'll find so many people jostling to cross these tracks, without fearing threat of death posed by silently approaching trains. How can we fear something when we have no choice," said Aftab, another resident of the colony.                              

We then walked towards one of the buildings where factory workers, mostly casual labourers in industrial units, live with their families. There were 60-70 families squeezed together in one building, each shelling out Rs 1200 as monthly rent for a dark, descrepit one-room accommodation, no kitchen and few dirty, common toilets. "Electricity metres over-run here and ration has to be purchased from shops suggested by the landlord, even if it is relatively expensive," said Rita. 

Showing us the cans in which residents normally store water, she added, "Within two to three days, this water will get infested with black worms." We get this water from the bore-well every few days after viciously fighting for it, or else we may not get even that. Having this water is better than not having any water at all," said Sonu, her neighbour, in a conversation with Hardnews.  Sonu has migrated from Nepal with his family and works for a local necklace-producing factory. "In many industrial units in this area, workers are overworked, under-paid and don't even get water to drink as employers want to save it at any cost. Sometimes, water is provided in cans placed deliberately on roof-tops so that workers cannot drink it or bathe with it because it becomes boiling hot during day-time. Many workers die every year because of such extreme working conditions," he said.

"Overall stress with regard to living in such dire circumstances gets worsened due to lack of clean and sufficient drinking water, leaving some people psychologically disturbed with visible symptoms of distress. You will see them staring into space, talking to themselves or making hand gestures at no one in particular," exclaimed Rita.