Delhi is getting the most quantity of water it has ever got, with treated water supply reaching a peak of 900 million gallons per day (MGD) in the past one year. Three new water treatment plants, 12 new underground reservoirs and 120km of new pipelines have been laid in a year.
When the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government came to power in February 2015, it promised to carry out key changes in the water sector in its election manifesto. The AAP even brought out a special white paper on water with 13 broad goals. Giving free water (up to 20,000 litres) to all households; scrapping the annual hike in rates that the Sheila Dikshit government had introduced; and cracking down on the tanker mafia that thrived because of the city’s unplanned nature – these were the promises.
A year later, the government’s record on water has been mixed. Water supply has been increased by 60 MGD on average and 205 colonies have been added to the network, but projects like installing GPS on all tankers and setting up drinking water kiosks have been delayed.
The increase in supply has been largely due to Haryana releasing additional water through Munak Canal after the High Court in March 2015 ordered that State to release water to Delhi.
For the first time in its history, the sub-city of Dwarka in South-West Delhi has got piped water. The area was planned by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), even though there was no additional water supply.
Dwarka resident and the head of the Dwarka Forum, Rejimon C.K., said the tankers and borewells that sustained the sub-city since 2000 have almost disappeared.
“Though the quantity of water may be less in the summer, we have almost stopped using borewells and tankers completely in the past year,” he said.
He added that the health of Dwarka residents had also improved, as the DJB’s treated water was cleaner than the groundwater that had higher TDS (total dissolved solids) content.
“Every winter we had to change the element of water heaters three times. But, this winter with the DJB supply we haven’t had to change the element,” said Mr. Rejimon.
DJB Member (Water Supply) R.S. Tyagi said 120 wells had been sealed in Dwarka, and 45 DJB tankers and 72 DDA tankers had been phased out.
“Delhi is getting 930 MGD of raw water, of which about 80 MGD is from groundwater sources. By starting treatment at three plants that were unused for years, we have reached a peak of 900 MGD,” said Mr. Tyagi.
He added that soon 15MGD of water would be added to the supply from Palla.
The other important promise, with both political and practical implications, was giving 20,000 litres of free water.
There were concerns that the DJB wouldn’t be able to survive the financial implications of the subsidy. But, even though 38.8 per cent of the DJB’s 23 lakh consumers avail of the rebate, the revenue has gone up.
“The free water scheme of ours is a case study for others. We were told that the DJB would go bankrupt, but we have earned Rs.178 crore more,” said DJB chairperson Kapil Mishra.
Though Delhi has more water, and more Delhiites have access to piped water than before, some of the big infrastructure projects of the DJB look like they will miss their deadlines.
The ambitious interceptor sewer project was supposed to be completed by June 2015, then the deadline got pushed to December 2016.
And now, Mr. Mishra says that it will be between December 2016 and March 2017.
