Half-way into the government’s term, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday took over the water portfolio, making it the first and only portfolio for him since the Aam Aadmi Party came to power in February 2015.
Notification issued
As per a notification issued by the Delhi government’s General Administration Department, the water portfolio was transferred from Rajendra Pal Gautam to Mr. Kejriwal.
Mr. Gautam would retain Social Welfare, Registrar of Cooperative Societies, SC & ST and Gurudwara Elections portfolios.
Meeting held
Taking over as Delhi Jal Board (DJB) chairperson, Mr. Kejriwal took a meeting of senior DJB officials on Monday evening. According to a government statement, he asked for a report on the timing, duration and problems related to water supply in all colonies as well a timeline for addressing the problems.
He also asked for details about colonies that are yet to get piped supply as well as the deadlines by when they would be connected to the network. He also ordered the officials to map areas vulnerable to leakage as well as give details of how much water reaches different parts of the city within one week. Addressing the issue of vacant posts in the DJB, he said officers should be promoted and lower-level vacancies should be filled on contract basis.
On the sewage infrastructure, the DJB would be making a presentation on decentralised sewage treatment plants before the Chief Minister on Friday. In the meeting, the DJB officials said the process of procuring 200 small machines and eight large machines for mechanical cleaning of sewers was on.
Second stint
This would be Mr. Kejriwal’s second stint as DJB chairperson, after he held the position during the 49-day tenure of the AAP government in 2013-2014. Since 2015, the DJB has seen four chairpersons, starting with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Kapil Mishra, Mr. Gautam and now Mr. Kejriwal. After Mr. Mishra was dropped from the Cabinet in May and later suspended from the AAP, Mr. Gautam was appointed later that month.
According to sources, Mr. Kejriwal’s decision to take the water portfolio was due to the government’s growing focus on the water and sewage infrastructure of the city, particularly the expansion of the networks.