With the Capital already feeling the heat, the Delhi Jal Board on Tuesday announced its annual summer action plan that seeks to meet the peak water demand during the scorching months ahead.
As per the plan, which is already being implemented, preventive maintenance of water treatment plants has been done so total shutdowns are unlikely, the DJB said.
“Though we have been working on the plan since October last, the formal document was delayed due to the elections and the model code of conduct. The plan is usually announced in March,” said DJB spokesperson Sanjam Chima.
Ms. Chima said around 900 water tankers will be pressed into service to make sure Delhiites don’t experience water shortage. The tankers will make 5,000 trips per day, up from 4,100 last summer.
Apart from that, the DJB has been busy upgrading its network during the past year. A total of 162 tubewells were installed last year, adding 80 MGD to the total water supply of the city. There are 4,400 tubewells and 15 ranney wells run by the DJB, with a total water supply of 835 MGD. Three new underground reservoirs were added, making the total 105. The water utility also replaced 250 km of old lines and repaired 330 major leaks.
However, despite all these measures the DJB will not be able to meet the city’s water requirement. Ms. Chima admitted: “The demand gap is being met by private tubewells.”