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Synopsis

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice in a Public Interest Litigation plea seeking direction to the Delhi Government to provide Sanitation/ Sewerage facilities, proper disposal of wastes, and habitable surroundings to the residents of the Rangpuri village area in Delhi.

After hearing the matter, a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad issued notice and listed the matter for further hearing on February 22, 2023.

The plea filed by the Sarva Seva Trust through Advocate Kartikeya Lal Rastogi sought direction to the Delhi Government to provide sewage facilities to the residents of portion B of the village Rangpuri Extension and recondition or permanently close the well in the village. The plea also sought direction to build at least two public toilets for each gender for the residents of each pocket of the village.

Advocate Rastogi submitted that the entire sewage and other waste generated from villagers' households are directed into a public well, instead of being directed and connected to the main sewer line of the area.

The plea submitted that the PIL has been filed for the cause of the residents of village Rangpuri Extension who are deprived of a clean and healthy environment, right to sanitation, and proper disposal of waste.

"All the residents of the village residing under portion A have access to sanitation/sewerage facilities and their private sewers are connected to the main sewer of the area enabling proper disposal of wastes in portion A. Whereas, the residents residing under portion B of the village have no access to any sanitation/sewerage facilities and the entire sewage and other wastes generated from their households are directed into a public well, instead of being directed and connected to the main sewer line of the area," the plea added.

Additionally, it submitted that the residents are compelled to discharge sewage wastes / other wastes into the well for the past 20 years and as a result of the same the entire well (being approximately 40-50 feet deep) is full to the brim and all the wastes, human excreta, and other obnoxious substances are overflowing from the well and flowing into the streets of the village causing inhuman conditions, cesspools, filth, and stench.

This has led to the open well and streets adjacent to the well turning into a breeding ground for mosquitos and causing infections and waterborne diseases such as dengue, typhoid, gastroenteritis, cholera, hepatitis, E. coli, salmonella, etc. in the village, the plea added.

Case Title: Sarva Seva Trust Vs. Govt. of NCT of Delhi & Ors.