Gurgaon Residents Escalate Water Crisis Complaint to Chief Minister and Civic Authorities
Residents of Ramprastha City, located in Sector 37D of Gurgaon, have formally written to the Chief Minister and local civic authorities, urgently seeking intervention to address a persistent and severe water supply shortage that has plagued the township for nearly two years. The complaint highlights alleged mismanagement by the developer, warning that the situation could deteriorate further with the approaching summer season if no corrective measures are implemented.
Chronic Shortages and Infrastructure Failures
In their detailed complaint, residents reported that hundreds of families have faced consistent water shortages due to what they describe as gross mismanagement by the project developer. They emphasized that the water supply has not been increased to match the steady rise in occupancy within the township. According to residents, the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) sanctioned 2,200 kilolitres per day (KLD) of water for the project, but currently, only approximately 750 KLD is being supplied. This significant shortfall is compounded by frequent pipeline punctures and a lack of infrastructure expansion to accommodate the growing population.
The township comprises several blocks, including The View, Atrium, Edge, and EWS blocks, along with commercial areas. Saurabh Mittal, General Secretary of The View block, stated, "As per the norm, 150 litres per capita per day should be provided. However, the present supply is inadequate for the existing population." Residents revealed that they are forced to rely on private tankers for their daily water needs, despite paying full maintenance and service charges. Mittal added, "Families who invested their life savings here are now dependent on private tankers for drinking water. Charges are collected irrespective of whether adequate services are provided. Despite repeated meetings and written representations to the developer, there has been no improvement."
Financial and Legal Concerns
Under the occupation certificate conditions, the developer is responsible for common area services, including water and electricity. Residents reported that Rs 324 per flat is collected as water charges through prepaid meters, regardless of the actual supply received. They noted that although the management previously acknowledged the need for additional pipelines, no visible work has commenced. Dinesh Raina, RWA President of The Atrium block, elaborated on the financial strain, saying, "We are forced to arrange costly private tankers even though the project remains under partial handover and the builder retains control of essential services." He further disclosed that the society lacks a completion certificate and that interest-free maintenance security (IFMS) funds remain unpaid, exacerbating the crisis.
Residents have urged GMDA to conduct a thorough inspection of the water supply and distribution system and to revise and augment the connection in accordance with current population norms. They described the situation as a significant public health concern, noting that irregular supply and reliance on private tankers of uncertain sources adversely affect hygiene and sanitation standards in the community.
Management's Response and Counterclaims
In response to the allegations, the facility management asserted that water is being distributed proportionally based on the quantity received from GMDA. A representative stated, "We are supplying water to residents in proportion to what we receive from GMDA. Flow meters are already installed and anyone can verify the data. It is not possible for us to give more water to some and less to others." The representative also claimed that some residents are misusing potable water for flushing instead of using treated STP water, which increases the burden on the potable supply. They added, "Residents have been informed that potable water should not be misused. If treated water is not used for flushing, it increases the burden on the potable supply. The issue of water supply has been taken up with GMDA."
As the dispute intensifies, residents continue to advocate for immediate action to resolve the water crisis, emphasizing the need for accountability and sustainable solutions to ensure adequate supply for all inhabitants of Ramprastha City.
