Delhi water crisis: South Delhi neighbourhoods limited to once-daily supply amid heatwave rationing

Delhi Water Minister Atishi announced on Tuesday that several neighbourhoods in South Delhi, including Greater Kailash, Lajpat Nagar, Panchsheel Park, Hauz Khas, and Chittaranjan Park, will now receive water only once a day instead of twice. 

This decision is part of a water rationing strategy to manage the ongoing water shortage. According to a report by the Times of India, the new schedule will remain in effect until the water supply situation improves.

Minister Atishi emphasized, “I know that where water is being supplied twice a day, people will be troubled if it is cut off to once a day, but I appeal to all Delhiites that we should not think only about ourselves. We should think about everyone."

Other areas in North and South West Delhi, such as and Chattarpur, are also experiencing significant water challenges due to a prolonged heatwave in northwest India. Temperatures in Delhi's outskirts are nearing 50 degrees Celsius. 

Atishi attributed the worsening situation to Haryana's cessation of Yamuna water releases to Delhi since early May.

On Tuesday, the Delhi Jal Board's (DJB) summer bulletin reported that the city's total water production was at 978 million gallons per day (MGD), with Wazirabad producing 110 MGD against a capacity of 131 MGD. Although this marked a slight improvement from Monday's production of 969.32 MGD, issues at Wazirabad continue to impact the overall supply.

Minister Atishi emphasized the need for "collective responsibility," urging residents to avoid wasteful water use, such as washing vehicles with open pipes. She cautioned that if voluntary measures prove ineffective, the government might introduce fines for water wastage, per the TOI report.

President Virendra Sachdeva blamed the severe water