Water supply to three renowned malls in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj – Ambience Mall, DLF Promenade and DLF Emporio, resumed on Monday, ending an unprecedented crisis that threatened to shut down the popular shopping centres ahead of Diwali. According to the managements of the malls, the water shortage issue was resolved late last evening.
Earlier, Ambience Mall was the first to get water relief and discussions on restoring supply to DLF Promenade and DLF Emporio were underway between the respective mall associations and the government.
For the first time, the city’s glittering shopping hubs that draw celebrities, foreign tourists and luxury shoppers alike had been battling a severe water shortage that has left authorities contemplating temporary closure.
The managements of the three malls had confirmed that water supply from the Delhi Jal Board has been disrupted for several days, leaving their tanks nearly empty. The situation had deteriorated so sharply that around 70 per cent of toilets were closed, and restaurants struggled to carry out basic hygiene operations.
From washing dishes to serving drinking water to customers, many outlets had been forced to curtail or temporarily suspend their services.
Authorities of the three malls issued a clear warning, saying, “If the water supply isn’t restored within the next two to three days, they may have no option but to shut down operations. Such a move would have a cascading effect, millions in business losses and thousands of jobs hanging in the balance.”
The water crisis has erupted just weeks before Diwali, the peak shopping season when malls are typically packed with shoppers and retailers see their highest sales of the year.
– Ends
