The residents of Sector 7x, Noida, are facing a severe water crisis characterized by low supply and high levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). Frustrated with the situation, which they say has persisted for nearly a decade, residents have written to the Chief Minister (CM) seeking urgent intervention.
Sector 7x, a cluster of 43 high-rise societies housing over one lakh residents, was marketed as a premium residential area with 24/7 Ganga water supply. However, residents claim they are receiving a blend of groundwater mixed with 30% Ganga water. The groundwater in the area is naturally high in minerals, and residents allege that inadequate treatment further exacerbates the problem.
Water samples from multiple societies have revealed alarming TDS readings, ranging from 1,000 to 3,500 mg/L, with one instance exceeding 6,500 mg/L. These figures far surpass the Bureau of Indian Standards' safe and acceptable limit of 500 mg/L for drinking water.
Residents report that the high TDS levels are causing a multitude of problems, including dry and dull skin, damage to household appliances, and various stomach ailments. Consequently, they are forced to spend significant amounts of money on water cans and filters.
"We talk about clean air every winter as if it's the only environmental crisis," said Amit Gupta, a resident of Prateek Wisteria in Sector 77. "For us, water is the bigger emergency. It has been for nearly a decade".
The residents' letter to the CM highlights the urgent need for the Noida Authority to address the water quality issue in Sector 7x. They are demanding a reliable supply of potable water that meets the prescribed standards. The letter also calls for a thorough investigation into the water treatment process and infrastructure to identify and rectify the shortcomings.
The residents hope that the CM will take cognizance of their plight and direct the concerned authorities to take swift and effective action to resolve the water crisis in Sector 7x. They emphasize that access to clean and safe drinking water is a fundamental right and that the authorities have a responsibility to ensure that this right is upheld.
