A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court, drawing attention to the persistent issue of sewer overflow over the past year, which has led to widespread water contamination and an increase in waterborne diseases in various parts of the city.

The PIL, filed by the NGO Social Jurist, is set to be heard by a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela on Friday.

The petition points to several causes for the problem, including the lack of desilting of major trunk and branch sewers, a reduction in sewer cleaning equipment and workforce, and the urgent need to replace aging sewer lines. Social Jurist urges the court to intervene, seeking immediate corrective measures to prevent further public health risks.

It said, “The respondents have utterly failed to resolve all issues relating to sewer overflow & consequent water contamination issues. Unfortunately, internal tussle in Government of NCT of Delhi is causing the general public to suffer".

“Delhi has witnessed severe unprecedented sewer overflow in the past one year. Due to this sewer overflow, water in many areas has been contaminated. In some areas even water borne diseases are spreading. Therefore, sewer overflow needs to be addressed in the larger interest of the society," said the plea filed through Advocates Ashok Agarwal & Kumar Utkarsh.

The petitioner stated that it submitted a representation to the authorities about the sewer overflow issue and received a response from the Delhi Water Minister. In her reply, she indicated that the complex problem of sewer overflow primarily stems from an artificial financial crisis and administrative difficulties created by the Delhi government's Finance Department.

“The actions or inactions on the part of respondents not to address sewer overflow problem due to internal tussle within the authorities leading to health problem is in violation of fundamental right of people residing in Delhi as guaranteed to them under Articles 14 & 21 of the Constitution,” the plea said.

The petition requests that the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) be directed to immediately address and resolve all issues concerning sewer overflow and the resulting water contamination.

It also calls for the Finance Department to promptly release the necessary funds and grant the required permissions to the DJB to tackle the problem effectively.

Additionally, the plea seeks the appointment of an independent committee to monitor and oversee the resolution of the sewer overflow issue.

The petition names several parties, including the Lieutenant Governor, the Delhi government (represented by the Water Minister), the Chief Secretary, the Finance Department, the Delhi Jal Board, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.