DJB confident of reviving waterbodies in Dwarka by next week

After the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directions to the Delhi government to revive waterbodies in the Capital in late June, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), which has taken over the waterbodies from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for revival a week ago, has started work and expect the work to be completed within a week. DJB has identified two waterbodies in Dwarka for revival at Sector 20 and 23.

“After the DJB got the go-head from the DDA last week it started to work immediately to revive the water bodies in Dwarka sub-city. The nullahs in which the storm water flows are being cleaned up. Gates are also being constructed in the nullahs to divert the water to the lakes and ponds and the ponds are being dug up to increase water retaining capacity. It would hardly take another week to complete the work,” said R S Tyagi, DJB member, (water supply). 

According to a recently-published interview with Millennium Post, Water minister Kapil Mishra said: “A water body committee has been set up for mapping the areas by the end of this year. We should be able to revive at least 10 waterbodies, which includes rain water harvesting and decentralisation of sewage system, by December this year. We will be ensuring that water channels are opened. I think by next Monsoon, we should be able to revive all the 100 waterbodies of Delhi.”

The NGT order to revive waterbodies on a plea filed by environmental activist Diwan Singh in which he claimed that the storm water drains of Dwarka discharged fresh water into Najafgarh drains instead of recharging the waterbodies. Singh claims that the inaction on the part of authorities has resulted in the death of ponds and lakes in Dwarka. “Monsoon is half way through and unfortunately the revival work is not yet complete. DJB started it too late and I don’t think so that they will be able to complete the work within a week. This delay has postponed the efforts by one year as Monsoon is almost over. This is an example of how bureaucracy can scuttle the efforts of the well-intentioned Water minister of Delhi,” said Diwan Singh. “The Water Minister is serious about bringing back water bodies to life. He has visited the spot himself,” Singh said.