Three new water treatment plants were commissioned last year by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) without making provisions for adequate raw water, and the sewerage infrastructure remained under-utilised, the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General for 2014-15 has found.
The report, which was tabled in the Delhi Assembly by Delhi Finance Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday, indicted the DJB for failing to use its installed sewage treatment capacity, commissioning 150 million gallons per day (MGD) plants without adequate water and incurring losses and delays on account of contractors.
While the Aam Aadmi Party government has launched an initiative to curb pollution in the Yamuna, the CAG report found that the existing sewerage treatment capacity of 651 MGD was not being used fully.
The actual treatment was 75 per cent, or 66 per cent if the capacity of closed or not commissioned plants is taken into account, of the total installed capacity.
This has only increased by seven per cent in two years.
No planning
The commissioning of the Dwarka, Bawana and Okhla water treatment plants were also questioned by the CAG, which found that the DJB did not have data for the actual amount of water required.
The audit found that the DJB failed to plan for the raw water needed for the plants.
The DJB’s financial management were also questioned by the CAG, which found “avoidable expenditure” of Rs.15.33 crore in the laying of the Wazirabad sewer and that Rs. 104.20 crore less than the amount supposed to be withheld in penalties were kept from contractors.
The audit found several irregularities and delays in both awarding contracts and executing them.
Delay at every stage
Delays ranging from five to 85 months in 44 out of 53 ongoing works were observed.
“The conceptualisation and planning for projects war marred with deficiencies in collection of data, frequent changes in scope of work, award of works without availability of encumbrance free sites, etc,” said the report.
It added that there were “delays at every stage” of the implementation of projects.
Three new water treatment plants were commissioned without making provisions for adequate raw supply
