Greater Noida Residents Drink Sewage Water Amidst Pipeline Crisis

Residents of Alpha 2 in Greater Noida are facing a severe health scare, with over 70 individuals reporting sickness. The alarming situation came to light on January 8, when the Residents Welfare Association president learned that four college students had contracted typhoid, allegedly from consuming water mixed with sewage due to damaged pipelines. The sector's aging galvanized iron water pipelines and uncovered sewer lines have been blamed for frequent contamination and flooding.

In response to the growing number of complaints, the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) collected water samples for testing on January 8 and has begun an urgent audit of the city's water supply infrastructure. Despite multiple complaints lodged over the past eighteen months, residents claim the pipeline issues were not permanently addressed. GNIDA officials stated that recent introduction of Ganga water and increased pressure may have exacerbated leakages in the old pipelines.

GNIDA has initiated the replacement of old iron pipes, a process expected to take time. While repairs are being conducted sequentially, officials noted that individual household complaints were previously addressed, and emphasized the need for residents to also maintain their water tanks. They indicated that the authority cannot be solely blamed for the ongoing issues.