Expressing serious concern over the shortage of drinking water in the national Capital, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said the present crisis is a result of the Delhi Government’s apathy.
Gupta said,”The Gover-nment itself has admitted that 47 per cent of the treated water is lost due to leakages or theft. The Chief Minister should inform people about the action the Government has taken in the last year to prevent such negligence,” he added.
Last year, the Government had conducted a successful trial to control ammonia diluted in water but even after it was not implemented, resulting in the severe shortage of water, he said.
Gupta said Haryana supplies 330 cusecs of water to Delhi daily through Munak canal, out of which 150 cusecs of water is lost due to leakages as the canal has breaches at the number of places. “It is regrettable that the Government has taken no concrete steps to plug these leakages during last three years,” he said. He added the Government should arrange water from Uttarakhand to improve supply in Delhi.
The problem of excessive ammonia in water is existing for the last four months but still no step has been taken to solve the problem. “If the efforts were made in time, the supply of clean drinking water could have been improved,” he said.
Why did not the Government take steps to implement the twin mainline network, the scheme under which Yamuna water would have reached directly to Wazirabad Plant, bypassing pollution of Panipat, he asked?
Gupta added the CM is chairman of Delhi Jal Board for last one year. Yet no action has been surfaced to improve supply of clean drinking water. “Water Bill has increased by 20 per cent and level of pollution in water has also increased but the supply of water has decreased. Around 50 per cent lives in slums are deprived of water supply,” he said.
He added with the mercury is rising, the supply of water is decreasing. “Last week an old man was beaten to death in Wazirpur Industrial Area over the issue of water supply. If the efforts are not made to improve the supply of clean drinking water, it may take a dangerous turn,” he said.