Neglected Delhi Pond Becomes Mosquito-Infested Health Hazard

As of November 10th, 2025, a once-tranquil village pond in Delhi's Budhela area has transformed into a major health crisis for the local community. The pond, which previously served as a natural sink for runoff and a local oasis, is now a foul, mosquito-breeding pool that has become a severe health hazard.

The pond, measuring around 0.6 hectares, was listed by the Wetland Authority of Delhi for notification and protection. However, over the years, it was gradually neglected and encroached upon. In 2002, the land was allotted to the Sahitya Kala Parishad, a Delhi government body for arts and culture, which later asked the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) to construct a cultural complex on the site. This construction work, which began in early 2024, triggered protests from residents and local activists who pointed out that the plot was a listed wetland.

Despite the protests, the construction continued, and the pond was filled with stagnant rainwater. The half-built structure now stands in the middle of a vast, mosquito-infested pool, with the water level continuing to rise due to seepage from the ground. Residents say the situation has become unbearable, with mosquitoes swarming the area by dusk, forcing them to shut their windows early.

Efforts by the authorities to address the issue have been largely unsuccessful. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi's malaria control unit has expressed its inability to clean the site due to the scale of the waterlogging. The DTTDC has now asked the MCD to take up anti-larval and cleaning measures, but with no drainage system in place, the water remains trapped, and the mosquito menace continues to spread across the neighborhood.