Air Pollution: Delhi Battles Toxic Air, Receding Yamuna And Sewage-Mixed Tap Water In Posh Colonies

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:00]Delhi finally got some relief from the scorching heat after evening showers brought temperatures down to 36°.

[00:00:07]But, make no mistake, the capital is far from comfortable after a week of punishing heat with temperatures touching 45°. Delhi continues to battle another familiar familiar I beg your pardon summer enemy.

[00:00:21]What is that summer enemy? Pollution.

[00:00:23]Air quality has swung between moderate and poor for much of the past 10 days with AQI breaching 250 mark on multiple occasions. As pollution levels remain a concern, the Delhi government is now stepping up its clean air push.

[00:00:36]What are they doing? They are going from filterless air purifiers to dust catching systems. A series of new technology are being deployed now and tested to tackle dust and vehicular emissions across the city.

[00:00:48]As part of the clean air push also, Delhi has installed 21 STR 101 filterless air purifiers that target dust, smoke, harmful particulate matter, and also treating nearly 3 lakh liters of air every hour.

[00:01:03]The government has also rolled out India's first EV mounted anti-smog gun to curb road dust without adding emission. Remember, dust is the major pollutant during the summer unlike PM2.5 that comes in during the winters.

[00:01:19]Meanwhile, Pawan 3 device is being tested to capture vehicular pollution at source with early trials showing encouraging results over there as well.

[00:01:27]But, pollution remember isn't Delhi's only summer challenge.

[00:01:34]Even as the capital fights dirty air, it is also staring at a growing water crisis. This time of dirty water.

[00:01:42]The Yamuna has receded dramatically near Wazirabad forcing workers to carve channels through riverbeds just to ensure water reaches treatment plants.

[00:01:53]With water levels falling and supplies from Haryana running below requirement, concerns are mounting over shortages in several parts of the national capital region.

[00:02:04]And for some residents, the concern isn't just water shortage, it's contaminated water.

[00:02:10]Residents in some part of South Delhi's poshest colonies claim sewage mixed water is flowing in their taps.

[00:02:18]This includes colonies like Gulmohar Park, even Defense Colony.

[00:02:24]Complaints are mounting and health fears are growing.

[00:02:31]>> South Delhi's posh colonies are battling a shocking water crisis. In Gulmohar Park, residents say sewage mixed water is flowing straight to their homes.

[00:02:43]75-year-old retired engineer Kapil Dev Ummat says he developed diarrhea after consuming contaminated water.

[00:03:01]Over the past week, families across Gulmohar Park have reported foul-smelling tap water. Many residents have now started cleaning their overhead water tanks.

[00:03:10]Water tank cleaners say complaints are pouring in not just from Gulmohar Park, but also from Panchsheel Park, Panchsheel Enclave, and Defense Colony.

[00:03:19]>> Panchsheel, Gulmohar Park, >> [music] >> The crisis has now put authorities under pressure.

[00:03:42]Officials suspect ongoing construction work has damaged the underground pipelines.

[00:03:48]>> Stomach infection is the major infection. Itching itching to be solved with that here. Stomach infection that means it's highly polluted this water and it has got polluted with the sewage somewhere it's got mixed up with the sewage. We are trying to you know follow with the DJ because you got it got it got it your building is not really working with the water.

[00:04:24]>> Residents have been advised to boil water before use but many say temporary fixes are not enough.

[00:04:31]>> Diarrhea, vomiting, other such infection hundreds of the families of Gulmohar Park one of the very posh colony in South Delhi are complaining about these illness and primary concern seems to be reason cause of this is the water contamination. Many of these houses have constructed their residential apartments and constructions over the pipeline has eventually led to the mixing of contaminated water through the water supply line.

[00:04:56]>> For people living in some of South Delhi's most premium colonies the fear now is simple. If clean drinking water cannot be guaranteed here where can it be?

[00:05:06]With Ashutosh Mishra bureau report India today.