Tue Jun 24 20:15:20 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing and rewriting the provided text:

**Delhi Slum Rehabilitation Project Plagued by Water Crisis and Neglect**

**New Delhi, June 25, 2025** – Residents of Swabhiman Apartments, a Delhi Development Authority (DDA) housing complex built as part of the “Jahan Jhuggi Wahan Makaan” (Where there’s a slum, there’s a house) slum rehabilitation scheme, are facing a multitude of challenges, including water contamination, non-functional lifts, and inadequate drainage.

The apartments, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January, were intended to provide a better quality of life for those displaced from razed illegal slum clusters, particularly the Jailorwala Bagh slum in Ashok Vihar. However, many residents are finding their new living conditions far from ideal.

Phoolchand, a resident of the complex, and migrant worker from Uttar Pradesh, reports experiencing skin irritation from the water supply, leading him to purchase bottled water and source water from his former slum for bathing. This is a common complaint among residents, who describe the water as “hard” and unsuitable for use.

Compounding the problem, sewer lines remain unconnected to the main drainage network, and only a few of the 14 lifts are operational. Rampreet Jha, another resident, expresses disappointment and frustration, stating that the apartments feel like a “curse” compared to his previous life in the slum. He is forced to carry heavy water jars up several flights of stairs due to the inoperable lifts.

A security guard, speaking anonymously, cited flooding on the ground floors as a key reason for the lift malfunction, deterring electricians from performing necessary repairs. Reports confirm the presence of accumulated water both outside the building and in ground-floor corridors.

The residents’ plight raises serious questions about the quality and planning of the rehabilitation project. Despite efforts to reach out for comment, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Delhi Jal Board, and the DDA have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the issues. This story was reported with inputs from Trisha Verma.

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