Kejriwal takes over Water dept, seeks detailed reports from DJB

NEW DELHI: Arvind Kejriwal on Monday took charge of the Water department, the first department he has taken over in his 30 months as Delhi's Chief Minister, and immediately issued instructions to overcome the Capital's nagging water woes.

As his first task after taking over Delhi's water and sewage management, Kejriwal asked the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to furnish details, within a week, of how much water actually reaches consumers and the difference between water generated and supplied to consumers. The direction came during a meeting of senior officers of DJB convened by Kejriwal.

The Chief Minister also asked the Board to furnish a report on timing of water supply in every colony, the duration of supply and problems faced – including water contamination.

Officials have been asked to come up with a deadline for resolution of the problems.

Kejriwal also said that on the basis of the current duty chart, vacant posts should be filled up by promoting officers, and vacancies at lower level be filled up on contract basis until regular appointments are done by the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board and Union Public Service Commission.

The DJB was also directed to make a presentation to Kejriwal on Friday on the sewage treatment plants (STP) to be set-up in a decentralised manner in all colonies across the city.

He asked DJB officers to look into the New Delhi Municipal Council model of decentralised STPs, which has resulted in lowering of rates and has been widely appreciated.

He also asked for a specific deadline by which the DJB will be able to map colonies without tap water and the deadline for laying the pipelines.

Kejriwal instructed the Board to procure sewer cleaning machines as soon as possible.

To this, the DJB replied that the process of procuring 200 small machines and eight large machines in going on.

After his Aam Aadmi Party won the Delhi Assembly elections in February 2015, Kejriwal had declared he would not keep any portfolio for himself, but monitor everyone's work for overall better governance.

Kejriwal decided to take over the Water department from Social Welfare minister Rajendra Pal Gautam, so as to resolve continued hassles with sewer cleaning and water crisis in the city.

As Delhi Water minister, Kejriwal also is the chairman of DJB, which is responsible for supplying potable water to millions in the Capital.