Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed on Sunday that each household in the city would be connected to a piped water network by the time the Aam Admi Party Government completes its tenure.
“There are several areas in the city which are not on the water pipeline network and are dependent on water tankers for supply. However, we are working on a plan that all houses would be connected with water pipelines in five years,” said Mr. Kejriwal after inaugurating the Dwarka Water Treatment Plant on Sunday.
Mr. Kejriwal said he has instructed the Delhi Jal Board officials to make a plan for it and, if required, “would be meeting the Prime Minister to get more funds sanctioned for the project”.
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The Dwarka WTP, after becoming fully functional to its capacity, would be able to produce 50 million gallons water per day and cater to 13 lakh people living in West Delhi including the parched Dwarka sub-city. The plant is currently working at 20 per cent of its capacity, Mr. Kejriwal said, due to limited water supply from Haryana.
He asserted that he is making all efforts to ensure that Haryana starts supplying Delhi’s share of water through Munak Canal, as directed by the Delhi High Court. “I wrote to the Haryana CM last week and he has replied assuring they would start supply of water soon. I would also be meeting him soon,” he said.
Besides dedicating the WTP to the people, Mr. Kejriwal said that the DJB would be taking over the operation of the plant from the Delhi Development Authority from March 16. He also assured the audience that the DJB will not bill “booster charge” from the residents.
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The DJB has also issued a helpline 1916 for registering complaints of water shortage and posting alerts related to leakage of water.