The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi Jal Board to tap leaks, penalise illegal tapping

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Tuesday, Jun 30, 2009
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Delhi Jal Board to tap leaks, penalise illegal tapping

Smriti Kak Ramachandran

‘We will impose penalties on those found wasting or misusing water’
‘Monitoring committees will identify the areas where wastage occurs’

NEW DELHI: With the monsoon playing truant and the neighbouring States threatening to cut supply, the Delhi Government has finally decided to tackle water wastage and leakage, the two major causes that make up for the bulk of the Capital’s water problems.

Following a meeting with Delhi Jal Board officials, a few MLAs and senior government functionaries on Monday, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said her government would crack down on water wastage and pilferage.

The meeting comes in the wake of continuing public protests over the shortage of water in several areas, especially the unauthorised colonies.

“We will impose penalties on those found wasting or misusing water,” Ms. Diskhit said, adding that while there was no water crisis on at the moment, the city’s distribution system was in need of an overhaul.

Pointing out that the delay in the onset of the monsoon had been a cause for concern given the depleting water levels in the rivers and damns, Ms. Dikshit said her government “has done the best that it can do in the given conditions”.

The Government has decided to form area-wise monitoring committees that will maintain stringent checks on leakages and illegal tapping. “The Chief Minister expressed deep concern over theft of water. The monitoring committees will identify the areas where tapping and wastage occurs and suggest action,” said Ramesh Negi, Chief Executive Officer of the Jal Board.

“The committee will include the MLAs or their representatives, eminent citizens and officials of the enforcement department of the DJB and study where and how leaks occur. They will monitor the wastage and the misuse of water and subsequently draw up a penalty to be borne by the offenders,” he said. The penalty structure, he said, would be decided once the committee is formed. “It is too soon to tell how much fine will be levied on the offenders, but there will be a concerted effort to tap the leaks,” he said.

The Government has also decided to allow MLAs to use up to Rs.1 lakh for carrying out emergency water and sewer-related works.

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