Delhi's 50-Year-Old Water, Sewer Lines: DJB Has No Fixed Replacement Timeline

• Delhi's water and sewer pipelines are up to 50 years old, with no fixed timeline for their complete replacement, according to Delhi Jal Board (DJB) documents.
• DJB states that replacement is an ongoing process based on ground conditions, reported problems, technical feasibility, and budget, not solely on age.
• Areas like Tri Nagar and Shakur Basti constituencies have pipelines 30-50 years old, with some already replaced due to serious issues.
• Cabinet minister Parvesh Verma informed the Delhi assembly that 8,000 km of pipelines are 2-3 decades old, causing contamination and leakages, requiring a 10-year replacement plan.
• Nearly 50,000 water contamination complaints have been filed in Delhi this financial year, raising concerns, especially after a contaminated water incident in Indore.

Why It Matters: Delhi faces a critical challenge with aging water infrastructure, leading to contamination and requiring phased replacement.