Delhi Congress President Devender Yadav on Monday wrote to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena demanding action against those responsible for the “unprecedented water crisis” in the national capital in this extreme heat amid the water crisis.

In his letter, Yadav pointed out that despite “significant water wastage”, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and Delhi Police have not taken any action against the guilty, as water theft from the DJB pipes have become a regular feature in many parts of Delhi.

“Water theft happens due to the  collusion of the Tanker Mafia with ruling party politicians, who aid and abet the water pilferage,” he stated.

Bringing attention of the Governor to a newspaper report about AAP Deoli MLA Prakash Jarwal   taking an alleged bribe of Rs 60 lakh monthly from the water tanker owners, he said, “About 20 water tanker owners reported to have come forward claiming that Jarwal had asked them for money, and four of them recorded their statements before a magistrate stating that they had paid him Rs 20,000 each to clear their file and Rs 500 for each round of supply.

It may be recalled that a water tanker owner, Dr Rajender Singh, had committed suicide a few years ago due to alleged harassment by Jarwal even after making a payment of Rs 10 lakh bribe to him.”

“According to ground reports, significant leakage of treated water takes place under the very nose of the DJB officials and Delhi Police, yet no action has been taken to punish the guilty,” he said. He mentioned his complaint to the Central Vigilance Commissioner about a massive loss of Rs 17,575 crore to the DJB due to water leakage between 2015-16 and 2022-23, and demanded a probe into the nexus between corrupt officials and politicians in this DJB scam.

He assured him that Delhi Congress Committee workers and leaders have been fully cooperating in identifying the leakage points, and held a peaceful ‘matka phod’ demonstration to highlight the issue, while the BJP demonstration became violent, damaging Government property.

Yadav appealed to Saxena to issue “stringent directive” to the officials and their political leaders involved in the blame game to collaborate in effectively managing the present water crisis, and registration of an FIR against those responsible for the rapid rise in the water scarcity.