Gurugram, Jun 17 (IANS): The Residents Welfare Association of a locality continues to allegedly illegally extract water from the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA)'s main pipeline and is disrupting the water supply to Palam Vihar, Carterpuri and Dundahera through which the pipeline passes.

This theft of water is taking place in the district despite the GMDA officials keeping a check on non-revenue water connections and water theft.

The adjoining shopkeepers requesting anonymity said the residents of the locality extorted Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per water connection from them.

"Earlier we had paid Rs 4,000 per connection to the residents but a few days back the latter disconnected our connections without any reason and demanded Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per connection. We came to know that it was an illegal connection and they also threatened us against filing any complaint with the authorities about illegal water connections," a shopkeeper added.

The GMDA had laid the pipeline in 2017 to supply water to Palam Vihar, Carterpuri and Dundahera but the residents of these areas have filed several complaints of shortage of water due to water theft.

Gurugram is already facing the challenge of depleting groundwater reserves and the supply of water often becomes a major problem, especially during summers due to non-revenue water connections.

"The matter of illegal water connections at street Number-5, Sheetla Colony Phase-2 has come to our notice and directions have been given to the officials concerned to disconnect the water connection. Stringent action will be ensured against the violators if the water connection is restored," said Rajesh Bansal, Chief Engineer, GMDA.

Abhinav Verma, GMDA Executive Engineer, said, "Nearly 60 illegal water connections in recent years have been disconnected across Gurugram and several illegal connections have been identified in different areas of the district. The focus is now on disconnecting such illegal water connections."