Gurgaon, June 26, 2024 — Residents of Emaar Imperial Garden residential society in Sector 102 were in for a shock on Tuesday morning when they found their water supply abruptly cut off. The disruption has been linked to a sinister demand for “protection money” from a local water mafia, which has been coercing residents of around 200 societies along the Dwarka Expressway to pay hefty sums to ensure the safety of their water pipelines.
Damage and Demands
The crisis began when the master water pipeline of the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) was deliberately damaged at multiple points. This act of sabotage followed a demand for ₹50,000 made by water suppliers to the residents of Emaar Imperial Garden, who had refused to comply. Instead, residents were being forced to buy water tankers at an exorbitant rate of ₹5,000 for a 5,000-litre tanker.
Karan Goel, deputy commissioner of police (west), confirmed the damage, noting that this is not the first instance of such vandalism. “The water pipelines were damaged, which is a regular practice by water tanker operators who have been supplying water to residential societies for many years,” he said.
Police and RWA Actions
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, a formal case had not been registered at the time of reporting. However, senior police officers inspected the damage and deployed patrol teams to prevent further incidents. Residents, frustrated by repeated pipeline damage and the subsequent costs, have lodged complaints with the police, but effective action has yet to be taken.
Sunil Sareen, deputy convener of the Dwarka Expressway Gurugram Development Association (DXP-GDA) and a former RWA president of the Emaar Imperial Garden society, highlighted the frequent damage and the significant financial burden it imposes. “We have spent around ₹10 lakh in the past three months on pipeline repairs and buying potable water through tankers,” he said.
GMDA and Developer Responsibility
The GMDA acknowledged the presence of the water mafia but placed the responsibility for maintaining society pipelines on the developers. Abhinav Verma, executive engineer at GMDA, stated, “The developer is responsible for the maintenance of their own pipeline infrastructure. Any illegal connections detected on the GMDA pipeline are disconnected by our team.”
Public Appeal and Health Hazards
Residents expressed grave concerns over their dependence on water tankers, citing both economic and health hazards. Vinod Kumar, a resident, called for urgent action, emphasizing the severe implications for public health and safety.
Siddharth Pahwa, president of the Imperial Garden’s RWA, detailed the extensive efforts and expenses incurred by the society to maintain water supply. “We want support from Gurugram authorities. The RWA has been spending ₹50,000 per day for 15 days a month on water,” he said.
Fear and Intimidation
Residents of other societies reported similar experiences but were reluctant to speak out due to fear of retribution. A senior executive from Sector 102, requesting anonymity, described the terror instilled by the water mafia, who monitor residents’ movements and intimidate those attempting to file police complaints.
Community Response and Future Steps
Yashesh Yadav, president of the Dwarka Expressway Welfare Association, announced plans to meet with the deputy commissioner of Gurugram to address the issue. “More than 200 societies are impacted and paying for drinking and consumable water. We need to resolve this issue urgently,” he stated.
In contrast, local water suppliers defended their actions, claiming financial strain due to competition from new water sources. Bhima Singh, a water supplier from Babupur village, argued that the residents’ refusal to pay has severely affected their livelihood.
As summer intensifies, the residents’ struggle underscores the urgent need for effective intervention by authorities to dismantle the water mafia and ensure reliable water supply.
For more updates on this developing story, visit Sarhind Times.
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