Releasing its summer action plan to deal with water shortage, Delhi government today emphasised on creating additional sources of water including installation of new tube wells and assured that Wazirabad and Chandrawal plants, which were frequently closed due to high ammonia content, will not be shut down this time.
Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra said there will be no water crises in the coming months as the action plan has been prepared after several rounds of consultations with all MLAs on water requirements in their constituencies during summer.
25,000 fixed points have been identified by Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for deployment of water tankers. These fixed points have been reduced from 30,000 to 25000 due to extension of water pipelines, he said.
While releasing the plan for the city, the minister also appealed to the Centre to come out with a similar nation-wide plan to ensure that people and farmers in other states do not suffer from water scarcity during summer.
According to the plan, DJB will be producing 900 millions of gallons per day (MGD) with erstwhile closed down plants in Dwarka and Bawana, after being restarted by the Delhi government, together producing an extra 55 MGD.
The water minister said 250 new tankers will be added to supply water to those areas where pipelines have not been laid. He said a new ammonia treatment plant has been installed to prevent frequent closure of Wazirabad and Chandrawal plant due to high ammonia content.
"DJB is also creating additional sources of water with the installation 12 new tube wells at Palla, increasing water supply from 20 to 35 MGD.
"Further, 60 new tubewells in different locations, rehabilitation of ranney wells and tubewells and replacement of old pumps and motors in water treatment plants (WTPs) and booster stations will ensure that Delhi produces enough water for all its citizens," Mishra told reporters here.
He said the DJB has a target of laying pipelines in about 300 colonies and water supply will reach 165 new unauthorised colonies in next six months.
DJB has created proper infrastructure plan for 40 Assembly
constituencies which are water deficient, and 55 constituencies which are vulnerable to water contamination.
"To ensure potable water which is wholesome and meets prescribed drinking water standards as per BIS-10500: 2012, all the 12 DJB water testing laboratories, including 7 zonal laboratories, have been fully geared up for intensive checking of water samples at the plants and at the consumers end," he said.
DJB tankers used to do 4,930 trips per day in 2014, which increased under the AAP government to 5,920 trips in 2015, and it will be scaled up to 6,400 trips per day in 2016.
"To increase the piped water supply network, DJB is currently laying pipelines in 69 colonies, work has been awarded in 199 colonies and estimation and tendering is currently in process in 32 colonies.
"342 out of 660 JJ clusters will be provided with piped water supply by 2016. 250 new tankers will be deployed in addition to existing 407 tankers by onset of summers 2016 to strengthen departmental water tankers fleet," Mishra said.
He said 20 new water ATMs will be installed in the current financial year. The installation work of E-Piaos (water kiosks) will be expedited for availability of drinking water in deficit areas.
Asked about frequent political tussle over water between Delhi and Haryana, Mishra said the neighbouring state is "bound" to supply Delhi's share of water as per the order of Supreme Court.
He said the Centre should also release summer action plan for the entire country so that people would get to know about what steps the government was taking to deal with water shortage.
"The Delhi government has proactively planned to ensure that Delhi citizens don't bear the brunt of the summer heat. However, the entire nation is suffering from a severe water crisis and drought which requires a national Summer Action Plan.
"I appeal to the central government to ensure that our citizens and farmers don't suffer in summer, and ensure the release of a nation-wide summer action plan for water," he said.
