A population growth rate of over 20 per cent coupled with the challenge of finding new sources of potable water has created a war-like situation in the Capital. The ‘water crisis’ in Delhi has been a rather sensitive subject for the State Government and will prove to be a major challenge in future as well.
While the demand and supply of water refuse to strike a balance with an enormous 264 million gallons per day (MCD) deficit, the situation is only expected to worsen in the future. By 2018, the requirement of water is projected to shoot up to 1,280 MGD, whereas, the availability currently stands at 835 MGD.
Rampant mismanagement of water has been a serious issue over the years. Even now, nearly 50 per cent of potable water in Delhi is lost on account of leakages, theft and unequal distribution. A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India states that in areas without pipelines, the per capita supply of water is a meager 3.28 litres per day against the prescribed 172 litres.
Cases of inflated water bills have also increased in the last two years for which the Delh Jal Board (DJB) received scathing criticism from public as well as Opposition parties. Ironically, only 37 per cent of the total water pumped into the city’s water pipes is metered. The authorities are clueless about the use of the remaining 63 per cent of Delhi’s water.
A big challenge for the government has been to find new sources of raw water to meet the ever growing demand in the city. With few sources of water within the city, Delhi depends on its neighbouring States, namely, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Uttarakhand.
However, the Capital also partially relies to some extent on its groundwater, the level of which is fast depleting. With around 446 tube wells drilled in the Yamuna bed and in areas within the city, the DJB extracts 80 MGD of water from the ground for daily supply.
Seven years and Rs 400 crore later, the 80 MGD of water from Munak Canal in Haryana is yet to be traced. Three water treatment plants (WTPs) in Delhi are rendered non-operational due to unavailability of raw water.
Besides, 19 years ago, the Government had proposed the construction of three reservoirs namely, Renuka, Kishau and lakhwar-Vyasi. The Delhi Government paid Rs 215 crore to the Himachal Pradesh Government for the Renuka dam. Even the detailed project report (DPR) was prepared but got stuck due to environmental clearance. The production of potable water at the WTPs and waste water recycling plants is also well below their designated capacity.
Private water tankers, prohibited by law are doing lucrative business in locations that are out of bounds for the DJB. Nearly 25 per cent households in Delhi avail the services of the ‘tanker mafia’, who charge exorbitant Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 for a 1,000 litre tanker.
These operators buy their water from farmhouses in the outskirts of Delhi where bore wells have been comfortably and rampantly installed. Environmentalists fear the future of the city and have asserted that such practices are fast depleting the groundwater table.
Organised water distribution, establishing a regulatory body to control and monitor the usage and expediting the proposed and ongoing projects can help in solving the water crisis. Deep underground and floodplain aquifers need to be developed along with a robust ground water management system.
A well planned rain water harvesting system can go a long way in solving the problem. Indirect measures like simplifying the cost and procedure of connection and consumption, expanding the existing water network, using third party (like NGOs) for sensitising people about piped water supply, educating field staff and ensuring continuous compliance and monitoring can turn Delhi’s ‘water crisis’ saga into a success story.