New Delhi: The Delhi Government is working towards ensuring 24x7 water supply in the national capital. The Delhi Government is planning to take up a bumper overhaul of water & sewerage infrastructure. In order to ensure a strong 24*7 water supply infrastructure and the sewerage system all over the national capital, especially in unauthorised colonies, various projects were approved in the 164th board meeting of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) held on Wednesday, January 11, 2023. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who gave approval to various projects. This included approval of a one-time settlement scheme for resolving the matter of the inflated water bills, establishment of 10 underground water reservoirs across the capital to enhance water supply, laying of new 300 kms water pipeline and 280 kms sewerage pipeline to connect unauthorised colonies to the network along with various other projects.
While addressing the press conference, Manish Sisodia said, “Many important projects to strengthen the water supply and sewerage network in the national capital were approved in a meeting held with the officials of DJB today. These projects will help us move a step forward in ensuring the 24*7 water supply to residents of Delhi and connect maximum unauthorized colonies to a better water and sewerage network.”
One time settlement scheme in one week to resolve all issues related to inflated water bills
The Deputy Chief Minister further added that the government has been receiving complaints from residents, MLAs and other sources regarding inflated water bills. To resolve the matter it has been decided that within a week’s time, Delhi Jal Board will come up with a one-time settlement scheme for people who are facing issues with their water bills, which will be then implemented by the government.
Manish Sisodia said, “People have reported various other issues such as irregular water reading by metre readers, non-functional water metres due to which they are receiving inflated water bills. All these matters will be resolved by the government under the aforementioned one-time settlement scheme of DJB soon.”
4.5 lakh residents have paid Rs 252 crores through the LPSC scheme; deadline till January 31, 2023
It is to be noted that there are 26 lakh water connections in DJB, of which owners of 18 lakh connections have no issue with their bills. But the bills of 8 lakh connections have been pending due to some or the other issue. In the previous meeting of the Delhi Jal Board, it was decided that a 100% late surcharge will be waived on the pending water bills to clear the pendency. A huge number of residents, nearly 4.5 lakh, have taken benefit of this LPSC scheme (Late Payment Surcharge Scheme) and DJB has received Rs 252 crores through this. The deadline to take benefit of this scheme is till 31st January.
Residents need not wait for DJB to get water metres installed; can get them installed on their own
So far, the government has been facilitating the installation of water metres in households. But there were many instances due to which there was a delay in the installation services. This affected the water bills of many consumers. But now the government has provided the relaxation and residents need not wait for DJB to get the water metres installed or replaced, they can get it done on their own. This will benefit the residents and they will get regular and correct water bills.
10 underground water reservoirs will be built to strengthen the base for 24*7 water supply in the national capital
It is the aim of the Delhi government to ensure a 24*7 water supply to the residents of Delhi. For this, approval was given for the construction of 10 underground water reservoirs across the capital by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Of these 10 UGRs, 6 will be the new UGRs. These UGRs will be built in Okhla, Rajinder Nagar, Patel Nagar, Karol Bagh, Jakhira, Anand Parbat, and Naraina and will benefit the population of nearly 26 lakh people.
300 kms water pipeline will be laid and 84 kms pipeline will be renovated by DJB to strengthen the water supply in Delhi
It is the vision of CM Arvind Kejriwal to ensure a 24*7 water supply to each and every resident of Delhi and connect unauthorised colonies to the proper water supply network. For this, DJB will lay 300 kms new water pipeline and renovate 84 kms old water pipeline.
New sewer pipeline of 280 kms will be laid across the capital to connect unauthorised colonies to the main sewerage network
Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said that work to connect the unauthorised colonies with the main sewerage network and provide all the basic civic infrastructure to the residents there is going at a fast pace. 280 km long sewerage line will be laid in Burari, Karawal Nagar and Narela assembly constituencies. After this, about 4.17 lakh people of 44 unauthorized colonies and 14 villages will get relief from sewerage problems.
The Delhi government has set a target to completely clean the Yamuna river by 2025. Under this, there is a plan to connect 100 percent of the houses in Delhi with sewer lines. Due to the lack of sewerage lines in 44 unauthorized colonies and 14 villages of Burari and Narela, dirty waterfalls into ponds-septic tanks and finally into Yamuna river. In such a situation, after laying sewer lines in these areas, people will get relief from sewer problems.
The sewer line will be laid in these villages and unauthorized colonies
Ibrahimpur, Mukhmelpur, Kadipur, Nangli Puna, Kushak-1, Kushak-2, Garhi Khasru, Jindapur, Alipur, Kheda Kalan, Budh Pur, Hiranki, Mohammadpur, Ramzanpur, Kushak-3, Shiv Enclave of Narela, Jindpur Extension, Jeetram Colony, Laxman Colony, Kherakalan, Swaroopnagar, Sultanpur Dabas, Balaji Enclave, Durga Enclave, Ibrahimpur Extension, Shastri park, Kushak Extension, Pradeep Vihar, Kadipur Extension, Durga Enclave.
2.3 lakh people will get relief from sewer problem by laying sewer lines in Karawal Nagar
It was decided in the Delhi Jal Board meeting that internal and peripheral sewer lines would be laid in parts of Shri Ram Colony, Rajiv Nagar and Sonia Vihar in Delhi's Karawal Nagar. With this, a sewerage facility will be provided to 4 unauthorized colonies of Sonia Vihar. The cost of this project is Rs 87.5 crore. Along with this, high-rise connections will also be given to the people by the Delhi government itself.
