Report Farhan Siddiqui
Delhi, August 12, 2025 – Residents of Gali No. 11, Mandawali Fazalpur, in Delhi’s Patparganj constituency are reeling from a persistent sewer blockage and overflow issue that has remained unresolved for weeks, despite repeated complaints to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). The stagnant sewage, now a breeding ground for dengue-carrying mosquitoes, poses a severe health hazard, prompting residents Deepak Sharma, Syyed Athar Hussain Rizvi, Saif Khan and Shreyansh to demand immediate action from DJB and their local MLA, Ravinder Singh Negi. The sewer blockage has been reported multiple times to DJB’s toll-free helpline (1916) and WhatsApp number (9650291021), with specific complaint numbers DJB003023304, DJB003019521, and DJB003026014. Despite these efforts, no resolution has been provided, leaving foul-smelling water pooling in the streets and disrupting daily life. “We’ve filed complaints and followed up repeatedly, but all we get are reference numbers. No DJB team has visited to fix the issue,” said Deepak Sharma, a local resident. Syyed Athar Hussain Rizvi added, “The stagnant water is a health risk, especially with dengue cases rising in Delhi. It’s unacceptable that nothing has been done.”According to DJB’s official guidelines, sewer blockage and overflow complaints should be resolved within 24 hours. However, residents report that weeks have passed without any intervention.
The Junior Engineer (JE) assigned to the area, Subodh Kumar, has been unresponsive, with calls to his provided contact number going unanswered despite multiple attempts. “We’ve tried reaching JE Subodh Kumar countless times, but he never picks up. How can we resolve this without any communication?” questioned Saif Khan and Shreyansh. The issue falls under the Patparganj constituency, represented by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ravinder Singh Negi, who won the seat in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections with a significant margin of 28,072 votes. Negi, also an MCD Councillor from Vinod Nagar, has been vocal about local issues, recently making headlines for alleging theft of government property from his MLA office by the previous administration. Residents are now urging Negi to intervene and press DJB for immediate action to resolve the sewer crisis.The health risks posed by the sewer overflow are particularly alarming amid Delhi’s ongoing battle with dengue. Stagnant water from the blocked sewer is an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes, raising fears of a potential outbreak. “If this leads to dengue cases, who will be held responsible? We need accountability from DJB and our elected representatives,” said Sharma, echoing the community’s growing frustration.
The Delhi Jal Board, responsible for sewerage and water supply in the capital, has a dedicated grievance redressal system, including a 24/7 customer care center (1916) and an email for complaints (grievances-djb@delhi.gov.in). The Mandawali area also has a specific water emergency contact number (22727812, 22724037), as listed on DJB’s official website. Despite these resources, residents report a lack of follow-through, highlighting systemic delays in addressing critical infrastructure issues.With the situation worsening, residents are calling on both DJB and MLA Ravinder Singh Negi to take swift action. They have escalated their complaints to senior DJB officials, including the Chief Executive Officer (ceodelhi.djb@nic.in), Member (Drainage) (mrdrainage.djb@nic.in), and Minister for Water, Shri Pravesh Sahib Singh (minister-lj@delhi.gov.in), hoping for a resolution.As the sewer blockage continues to disrupt life in Gali No. 11, Mandawali Fazalpur, the community awaits urgent intervention to address this public health emergency. For now, the question remains: how long will residents have to endure this crisis before action is taken?
Contact for Complaints:
- Delhi Jal Board Helpline: 1916 or 1800117118 (Toll-Free)
- WhatsApp: 9650291021
- Email: grievances-djb@delhi.gov.in
