Man & machine fight perils of Najafgarh drain

NEW DELHI: The Najafgarh drain that flows from Dwarka to Wazirabad before reaching the Yamuna crosses Punjabi Bagh during its long journey through Delhi. The filth it carries not only leaves the area stinky but also makes the air toxic.
"We can't keep any silver idol or utensil in our puja room. All such items and even silver anklets and toe rings blacken in a few days.The air here is that toxic," said Nidhi Garg, a resident of Road 16 in East Punjabi Bagh. "No retailer here gives warranty cards for electrical appliances. We get our AC gas refilled twice every season. Even refrigerators are damaged," she added. "Copper wires and pipelines gather a black coating in no time," said a guard working at Nijhawan's, one of the upscale bungalows on Road 77.
Health is also an issue. Garg does not allow her children to step out after dusk because of the stench and makes sure they wear full-sleeve tops to save them from mosquito bites. Sumita Behl applies repellents every two hours. "This place is full of mosquitoes. We use nets, repellants and what not. One would think ACs give respite from mosquitoes, but in our area even ACs are corroded," she said.
"Each yard of land in West Punjabi Bagh costs around Rs 4 lakh. You won't find such fancy houses at this rate in Connaught Place and south Delhi," said Ishwar Bansal, vice-chairman, Punjabi Bagh Cooperative Housing Society.
West Punjabi Bagh has four prominent educational institutions — Guru Harkrishan Public School, Guru Nanak Institute of Management, NC Jindal Public School and Ch. Jaswant Lal Public School. Shilpa Narag, Rubal Sahni and Deepika Kalra, waiting to pick up their children near Road 72 in the afternoon, said dengue and malaria cases are quite common in the area. "Fumigation is done once in a blue moon," said Sahni while Deepika added, "There are so many schools in the area. Children's health is affected because of the stench and mosquitoes."
Mechanics with shops in jhuggis situated parallel to the drain in West Punjabi Bagh said sulphur dioxide damages airconditioners and coolers. Sarabdeep Singh, a self-employed businessman residing on Road 51, said, "I've read newspaper reports that confirm that Punjabi Bagh is the most polluted area in Delhi. Such toxic air cannot be found anywhere else."
In the past, residents along the Yamuna and the Shahdara drain in Noida had complained of similar problems. Punjabi Bagh Cooperative Housing Society has been fighting a case in the Delhi high court for more than a decade for stopping discharge of untreated effluents into the drain and to get it covered.
Government officials, however, feel covering the drain would only compound the problem. Dr K K Bhalla, deputy health officer of Karol Bagh zone, said, "We spray BTI insecticide to prevent breeding of mosquitoes. But hyacinth plants clog many areas and make spraying difficult. Building parapets or cementing will help maintain a steady flow and stop people from dumping waste there."
Punjabi Bagh Club, with over 8,000 members from the area as well as outside, stands a couple of kilometres from the drain. A one-time membership here costs Rs 11 lakh. It offers them various sports and recreational facilities but nothing can beat the stench and the toxic air.