DJB cracks down on illegal connection, 411 people prosecuted

On the first day of its drive against illegal connection holders and to curb wastage of water, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has prosecuted 411 people.
The DJB said that it was first of its kind action taken by the board.
Apart from this, DJB said, regular enforcement actions have also been intensified and 4,577 properties were inspected and 1,055 people have been issued challans in the last three months.
The focus of the drive is to ensure that no person or establishment stealing water by means of illegal connection or misusing water should be spared, the board said.
"DJB has strengthened its efforts against illegal connections and wastage of water and has launched a citywide intensive enforcement drive.

"During the drive, 1,567 properties were inspected and 411 people were prosecuted in a single day (on August 26). DJB intends to take up such drives every week," it said in a statement.

The board took action against the offenders under provisions of Delhi Water Board Act, 1998 and the drive was conducted in areas such as Pahar Ganj, Mundka, Ashok Vihar, Rohini Sector 2,3,7 and 8, Palam Dabri Road and others.
The DJB said it had along with the state government has taken a number of steps in recent past to facilitate and encourage people to get water and sewer connections.

The Delhi government has recently reduced development charges for water and sewer from Rs 494 per square metre (sewer) and Rs 440 per square metre (water) to Rs 100 per square metre for both.
The charges for regularising an illegal connection have also been brought down from Rs 18,000 to Rs 3,300. Maximum permissible connections in a property have also been increased from six to 10, DJB informed.
Both, fixed and monthly charges, for commercial connections have also been rationalised. Although a large number of residents are coming forward to regularise connections, still there are those who are tapping water illegally, DJB rued and warned of strict action against such persons.