Delhi’s Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal on Tuesday spoke to Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and will also speak to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar regarding water supply to Delhi. Baijal monitored the water supply in Delhi and directed the Jal Board and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to submit a report on this.
Though the Delhi Government prepares a ‘summer action plan’ for the peak season, people face water supply issues. The city’s Sangam Vihar, Hauz Khas, South Extension, Uttam Nagar, Punjbai Bagh areas are some of the worst-hit each year. Chilla village and the Vivekanand camp in Chanakyapuri are areas where water scarcity is a persistent problem.
Shockingly, slum dwellers still depend on water tanks and they have to form long queues to get drinking water from DJB tankers.
With the growing population in Delhi, water demand has increased and agencies are unable to meet the demand. As per a report of the Jal Shakti Ministry, Delhi’s demand is expected to exceed 1,455 million gallons per day (MGD) by 2024.
While the serious water deficit has affected residents, the Delhi Government has joined hands with IIT Delhi for a water extraction plan in Palla, near the Yamuna floodplain.
According to the DJB the average demand of potable water in Delhi increases more than the average 1,100 MGD, against which the DJB can only supply 935 MGD.