In response to the charges of spreading myths leveled by the Delhi Water Supply and Sewage Disposal Undertaking (DWSSDU), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) had sent a legal notice to DWSSDU to be more responsible towards the citizens of Delhi by providing correct information while demonstrating the authenticity of the same. CSE had asked DWSSDU to withdraw the statements that cast aspersions on CSE and to issue an apology. Since DWSSDU has not found it fit to reply to the legal notice and its reminder, CSE has no option but to go ahead with appropriate legal measures.

It may be recalled that following the release of CSE's report Homicide by Pesticide: What pollution does to your body at a well attended public meeting in Delhi by former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, DWSSDU officials had said in public statements that "I do not know what is the motive behind publicising such reports which create myths amongst the educated class....why create myths?....it was outrageous to suggest that water was not treated for pesticide residue...." It is worth noting that Justice P.N. Bhagawati, former Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India and Prof. Ramalingaswamy, former director general of Indian Council of Medical Research were some other speakers at the public meeting in Delhi, all lauding the CSE’s report. The Delhi Chief Minister too had said in the assembly that Delhi water is potable.

Instead of addressing the vital issues affecting the health of the people, as raised in the report, unfortunately, the water supply body had chosen to make unfounded claims that "We have taken both raw and treated water. Both Samples have been checked for pesticides and they are not present" based on just one time sampling of one day.

As against this, the 1996 studies of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which along with the Indo Dutch Government study of 1996 formed the basis of CSE's report, were a result of ten years of monitoring of quality of Yamuna waters at fifteen places all along the stretch of Yamuna river. There are a number of other studies including those by Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi University, Central Fisheries Research Institute,(all these we have quoted) World Wide Fund for Nature, etc. which all collaborate to CSE's report. Even CPCB has filed an affidavit in Delhi High Court which accepts that due to the pollution of Yamuna waters from various sources, the health of people including citizens of Delhi and Agra who use it as drinking water source is at risk. The DWSSDU, negating these government and non-government research reports, however, claimed that none of these theories are proved. "Our samples are chemical and pesticide-free".

If the DWSSDU was interested in clearing the air, or as in this case, the water, they will have to prove that all these studies were faulty. And besides what were the DWSSDU doing when these reports were published. Surely a responsible water supply agency would be in the know of any report that concerns their main source of water, the Yamuna. In any case it is evident that DWSSDU had not been monitoring the pesticides levels in the drinking water supplied to Delhi. DWSSDU does not have the capability of treating or testing pesticide traces in water. And there is clearly total lack of coordination between the various department concerned in this case, including the Environment, the health, the agriculture and the water supply department.

These are most irresponsible statements, coming as they do come from a body whose statutory duty under section 213 of the DMC Act of 1957 (read with Section 511A thereof) it is "... for ascertaining sufficiency and wholesomeness of water supplies within Delhi" and also to provide accurate information to the citizens of Delhi about the quality of water supplies. DWSSDU has gravely erred in the process of spreading misinformation instead of addressing the serious issues raised by CSE.