The Hindu 12.04.2013
Delhi unlikely to get additional water this summer
Delhiites might have to make do with whatever water is
supplied to them currently as there is little possibility of any
additional quantity being given to the city for the coming summer
months. With Haryana dragging its feet over the release of the
additional 80 MGD of water through the Munak Canal, Delhi might have to
spend the summer rationing its supply.
On Thursday,
the Delhi Jal Board claimed it is prepared to meet the demand for water
and is expanding its network to supply water in areas that have so far
not been provided piped water supply; it was however unable to comment
on whether it will be able to secure the additional 80 MGD from Haryana.
Delhi
has taken up the issue with the Centre several times over, and will
again seek the government’s intervention in securing the additional
quantum of water. The DJB has been pressing for the release of this 80
MGD as this quantity was supposed to provide water to lakhs of consumers
in several parts of the city including Dwarka.
Three new water treatment plants, ready for commissioning, are idling in the absence of this additional raw water.
Referring
to initiatives being implemented by the Board, utility’s chief
executive officer Debashree Mukherjee said the Board is prepared to face
the expected water demand. “To make water supply to consumers more
efficient and equitable while bearing in mind the feedback from
consumers in the last summer with regard to infrastructure improvement,
the DJB has drafted a renewed Summer Action Plan, which includes a
detailed execution plan taking care of complaint redress and
identification of water deficient areas etc.”
The Jal
Board is also banking on recycled water to compensate for the
unavailability of additional water and ranney wells for an additional 2
MGD.
The Jal Board will also rationalise water supply
across the city to improve distribution and technical feasibility is
being carried out to supply water to 210 unauthorised colonies.
For
the areas where tankers are used to supply water, 400 new stainless
steel containers are being introduced. These tankers, fitted with GPS
tracking devices will be monitored for timely delivery of water, the DJB
official said.
