Siddheshwar Shukla | New Delhi Following complaints of "mucky potable water" in posh Delhi colonies a month ago, residents of South Patelnagar reported sewage in tap water over the past one week. More than 200 houses in Lane No. 7 have been receiving a "cocktail" of water and human excreta. Several complaints lodged with Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officials in the last one week by all residents have gone unheard and the lame excuse the authorities forwarded was about the Holi festivities which allegedly hampered their work. "We are purchasing water jars to drink water and have been avoiding baths. The water is reddish black in colour and contains human excreta that sit at the bottom of the containers and utensils," said Kitty Malhi, a resident of 7/ 39 in South Patelnagar. The residents of one entire lane are suffering due to apathy of DJB officials. The present situation of dirty water started one week ago but residents complain that the problem has persisted since January when a new water line was laid down. "The new water pipeline laid crossed a sewage line and is defective and damaged at several places. Whenever we complain, DJB staff digs up one site or the other to solve the problem temporarily but none of the broken and defective water pipelines are replaced," said Rajesh Kumar, a businessman who resides in the locality. As water tankers were also not being supplied the residents have no option but to queue up in the nearby temple for water. A sizeable percentage of the child and elderly population from Shiv Chowk to Hanuman Chowk are suffering from stomach related diseases. "I fell ill at the starting of my board examinations but somehow managed to appear in the examinations. I drink only boiled and filtered water now and do not trust the DJB water supply," said Shrishti Kumar (17), who is appearing for the Class XII examination of the CBSE board. Residents also said the DJB has sanctioned Rs 40 lakh to lay down new sewer and water lines in but the officials are not utilising the fund. When contacted, the zonal engineer confirmed allocation of the fund but could not give any satisfactory answer as to why work had not been started. "We will address the present problem on a priority basis. The fund for the project has been cleared and we will start work at the earliest," VK Chauhan, Zonal Engineer of DJB, said. However, Chauhan claimed that he received information of the receipt of dirty water in the area only two days ago and will take necessary action at the earliest. In the last week of January, around 100 families of pockets C-I and C-II of Vasant Kunj and nearby areas started receiving water mixed with cowdung and sewage from their taps. The problem that was due to prolonged blockage at the Masoodpur drainage pipeline and it was solved only after the DDA and DJB were forced by residents to take joint action against it.