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Delhi is facing multiple civic challenges this summer, including severe air pollution, a looming water shortage, and a contaminated water crisis.
Transcript
00:00Delhi finally got some relief from the scorching heat
00:03after evening showers brought temperatures down to 36 degrees.
00:07But make no mistake, the capital is far from comfortable.
00:11After a week of punishing heat with temperatures touching 45 degrees,
00:15Delhi continues to battle another familiar,
00:18Begabaran, summer enemy.
00:20What is that summer enemy? Pollution.
00:23Air quality has swung between moderate and poor
00:26for much of the past 10 days,
00:27with AQI breaching 250 mark on multiple occasions.
00:31As pollution levels remain a concern,
00:33the Delhi government is now stepping up its clean air push.
00:36What are they doing?
00:38They are going from filterless air purifiers to dust-catching systems.
00:41A series of new technology are being deployed now
00:44and tested to tackle dust and vehicular emissions across the city.
00:47As part of the clean air push also,
00:50Delhi has installed 21 STR-101 filterless air purifiers
00:54that target dust, smoke, harmful particulate matter
00:58and also treating nearly 3 lakh litres of air every hour.
01:03The government has also rolled out India's first EV-mounted anti-smog gun
01:08to curb road dust without adding emissions.
01:12Remember, dust is the major pollutant during the summer,
01:15unlike PM2.5 that comes in during the winters.
01:18Meanwhile, Pawan 3 device is being tested to capture vehicular pollution at source,
01:24with early trials showing encouraging results over there as well.
01:27But pollution, remember, isn't Delhi's only summer challenge.
01:34Even as the capital fights dirty air,
01:36it is also staring at a growing water crisis,
01:40this time of dirty water.
01:41The Yamuna has receded dramatically near Wazirabad,
01:46forcing workers to carve channels through riverbeds
01:49just to ensure water reaches treatment plants.
01:53With water levels falling and supplies from Haryana running below requirement,
01:57concerns are mounting over shortages
01:59in several parts of the national capital region.
02:04And for some residents, the concern isn't just water shortage.
02:07It's contaminated water.
02:09Residents in some part of South Delhi's poshest colonies
02:13claim sewage-mixed water is flowing in their taps.
02:18This includes colonies like Gulmohar Park,
02:21even Defence Colony.
02:23Complains are mounting and health fears are growing.
02:31South Delhi's posh colonies are battling a shocking water crisis.
02:35In Gulmohar Park, residents say sewage-mixed water
02:38is flowing straight to their homes.
02:4275-year-old retired engineer Kapil Devumat says
02:46he developed diarrhoea after consuming contaminated water.
03:00Over the past week, families across Gulmohar Park have reported foul-smelling tap water.
03:06Many residents have now started cleaning their overhead water tanks.
03:10Water tank cleaners say complains are pouring in not just from Gulmohar Park,
03:14but also from Panjshil Park, Panjshil Enclave and Defence Colony.
03:19Panjshil, Gulmohar Park and Defence Colony
03:38The crisis has now put authorities under pressure.
03:42Officials suspect ongoing construction work has damaged the underground pipelines.
03:48Stomach infection is the major infection.
03:52Stomach infection, that means it's highly polluted, this water.
03:55And it has got polluted with the sewage.
03:59Somewhere it's got mixed up with the sewage.
04:01We are trying to, you know, follow with the DJB.
04:24Residents have been advised to boil water before use,
04:27but many say temporary fixes are not enough.
04:31Diarrhea, vomiting, other such infection.
04:33Hundreds of the families of Gulmohar Park,
04:36one of the very posh colonies in South Delhi,
04:38are complaining about these illness.
04:40And primary concern seems to be reason,
04:42cause of this is the water contamination.
04:45Many of these houses have constructed their residential apartments
04:48and constructions over the pipeline
04:50has eventually led to the mixing of contaminated water
04:54through the water supply line.
04:56For people living in some of South Delhi's most premium colonies,
04:59the fear now is simple.
05:01If clean drinking water cannot be guaranteed here,
05:04where can it be?
05:05With Ashutosh Mishra, Bureau Report, India Today.
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