Delhi prepared to deal with water problems: Minister

The Delhi government was fully prepared to deal with the water crisis for the summer, Water Minister Kapil Mishra said on Tuesday.

"Delhi Jal Board (DJB) is fully prepared. The biggest achievement is that the government is ensuring 900 MGD (million gallons per day) of water supply and it will continue during the summer. We have also installed 60 new tubewells at various locations," Mishra said, unveiling the Summer Action Plan (SAP) 2016.

He said all faulty pumps and water stations were being repaired.

The SAP was prepared after consulting all stakeholders including Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and legislators.

"The SAP is a detailed analysis in which we have prepared an assembly segment-wise and district-wise list of areas which face severe water crisis. It will help in identifying the problem and solving it," he said.

DJB CEO Keshav Chandra also echoed similar views.

"For the first time, we had consultations with all the MLAs and tried to identify problems of sewage overflow or contamination in their areas so that the complaints can be handled quickly," he said.

On the supply of water to the national capital, he said: "We hardly have any control over supply of water. The neighbouring states are responsible for it. Fortunately the supply is coming and hopefully this summer, we would not have as many problems as we had during last season."

Meanwhile, in a first, the water minister announced that the government would set up 110 water outlets named "e-Piyau" at various locations across the city.

"We will install e-Piyau at several crowded points across the city so that people don't have to buy water bottles," Mishra said.

He said 20 new water ATMs would also be set up in several colonies.

Apart from this, out of 1,639 unauthorised colonies, the piped water supply network has been extended to over 300 colonies and the rest would be covered by 2017 in a phased manner.

"Piped water supply network will also be extended to slum clusters. We are planning to cover 342 slum clusters under the piped water supply scheme in 2016," he said.

He also said 25,000 fixed supply points have been identified for deployment of water tankers.

"These have been reduced from the earlier figure of 30,000 due to extension of piped water supply network in unauthorised colonies. During the peak season, about 6,400 trips per day are targeted to supplement demand in water-deficient areas as well as those which do not have piped water supply," he added.

He also requested the citizens of Delhi to save water.

"The government is making all efforts to make available potable water during the summer season. But I request people to use water judiciously, for its conservation is essential," he said.

--IANS

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