With the addition of around 1 lakh metered water connections in the past one-and-a-half-years, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) now has an all-time record 19.54 lakh metered connections in the city. In its 129th board meeting on Monday, the DJB has approved scores of infrastructure projects related to strengthening water and sewage network in the Capital besides renewal of two waterbodies in Dwarka.
“We have seen unprecedented growth in our metered network due to progressive policies which encourage users to put up meters. We have also made it easy for commercial connections in the city by abolishing the infrastructure charge and creating two simple slabs for the development charge,” Kapil Mishra, Delhi’s Water Minister who is also the chairperson of DJB, said. The minister further informed that the DJB has decided to abolish infrastructure charges for commercial connections. DJB has also decided to extend the waiver of late payment surcharge and regularisation of domestic and commercial unauthorised water connections till January 31. These measures, Mishra said, will promote water connections and further increase the number of metered connections in the city.
“DJB has also launched infrastructure projects in water and sewerage worth over Rs 400 crore in 15 constituencies,” he added. The board has also decided to open up six baarat ghar (marriage halls) for the citizens of the area. “DJB board meeting has also approved the development of two waterbodies in 35-acre area in Dwarka which are expected to add 10-15 MGD water supply to Delhi. We will also create six new waterbodies in Rithala, Rohini Sector 25, Nilothi and Kondli,” informed Mishra. The waterbodies taken up for development by DJB are spread over 35 acres of land in Dwarka. DJB also plans to feed these waterbodies with treated water of Pappankalan Sewage Treated Plant in addition to 10-15 MGD of ground water.
According to data with the DJB, it had 18.6 lakh watered metered connections in 2014-15 before the Aam Aadmi Party government came to power. The government took several measures to increase the number of watered metered connections in the city, one of which was eliminating several slabs for development charges for commercial properties and introducing two simple slabs — Rs 45,000 for less than 50 sqm and Rs 1 lakh for more than 50 sqm.
The DJB has also approved projects to lay new sewer network in Patparganj, Wazirabad, Nangloi, Bhawana, Haiderpur, Mustafabad, Sangam Vihar. The board has decided to lay, replicate and rehabilitate drinking water network in several areas like Majnu Ka Tila to Rajghat, Okhla to Barapullah, Karawal Nagar and Mustafabad costing crores of rupees. With a cost of Rs 14.47 crore, the DJB will construct 12.4 MLG capacity Underground Reservoir at Mayapuri.