As mercury is soaring high, Delhi Water Minister Atishi has written to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar  ‘regarding the persistent issue of severe water shortages experienced by residents across various parts of South Delhi’. The minister claimed that ‘it seems as if there is a deliberate attempt to create a water crisis’ on Friday. This is her second letter to the Chief Secretary  on the water shortage issue.

In a letter to Kumar, Atishi said, “I have been getting complaints of serious water shortage in Aya Nagar, Bapu Camp, Sambhav Camp, Maidan Gadhi, Kharak Revada, Mandi, Asola Band Road, Sanjay Colony, Bhati Mines, Indira Enclave, Freedom Fighter Colony and Jonapur Colony,” adding that the problem has intensified with the early onset of summers in Delhi”.

Expressing concern, the minister said that If this issue is not resolved immediately, there will be a crisis like situation in the area. She claimed, “In fact, it has been brought to my notice that instead of resolving the water crises in this area, the number of water tankers serving these areas has been reduced from last summer.”

She alleged that many borewells, as well as reboring of borewells, have been sanctioned but the work has not been done. “It almost seems as if there is a deliberate attempt to create a water crisis,” the senior AAP leader said while taking potshots at Kumar.

Mentioning her missive to Kumar on April 3, Atishi said that the onus to provide clean water to the citizens in the national capital lies with the Chief Secretary and the CEO of DJB A. ANBARASU. “In the past, I have given several directions to the Chief Secretary and CEO-DJB to ensure there is no water shortage in any part of Delhi. Water is an essential commodity for all human beings, and it is the responsibility of the Chief Secretary and the DJB to ensure that each household of Delhi has access to clean water.”

Taking a jibe on Kumar, Atishi wrote, “Nowhere in the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is it mentioned that essential works cannot be carried out during Elections. MCC cannot be an excuse to deprive citizens of their basic right by the senior officers of GNCTD.”

She further directed Kumar to “ensure five million gallons per day (MGD) of treated water that has been allocated to Chhatarpur UGR reaches there regularly, boring and commissioning of requisitioned tubewells to be done on an emergency basis within one week and number of water tankers to be increased to the same number as last summers by April 15.”

Further, she stated that a daily compliance report will be submitted to her by 6pm, till all the issues mentioned by her are resolved.