DJB takes over water supply for sub-city from March 16
For the residents of parched Dwarka, the basic need of “water” is soon going to cost them as much as 30 per cent lesser than the present tariffs. While putting an end to the “booster charge” for Dwarka dwellers, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) will take over the supply of water for the sub-city from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) from March 16.
The residents of the region did not quite agree with Kejriwal when he had said they would also be able to avail the free “lifeline water” scheme of the Delhi Government. However, with around 350 group housing societies in Dwarka — that have single water meter — they now seem rather optimistic about the scheme.
Irrespective of a water treatment plant (WTP) being commissioned in Dwarka’s Sector 16 or 20,000 kilolitres of water being offered to them for free, residents of this region are happy because they expect their water bills to be reduced by Rs5 to Rs6 per kilolitre with DJB taking over.
Dwarka is one area which has the steepest water tariffs in the whole of the national Capital. While those living in DDA housing societies enjoy the benefit or disadvantage of paying a flat rate of Rs267 per month irrespective of the water supplied or consumed, all other residents have to pay as high as Rs14.70 per kilolitre.
Those who take water supplied through tankers buy it at Rs46.50 per kilolitres. Ironically, those in the posh New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area pay just Rs2.75 for the same amount of water. In other areas under the three municipal corporations, the rate varies between Rs7 to Rs8 per kilolitre. With the DDA handing over charges of water supply to the DJB, rates are expected to drop drastically as “booster charges” levied on the consumers will then be removed.
“Every household has to pay Rs1.75 per kilolitre as booster charge. Then there are other additional charges like service tax, transmission and cess. Rates can go down by at least Rs4. The basic reason why water has been expensive in Dwarka was that the DDA used to buy water in bulk from the DJB. They had to pay some amount to the water utility, which was levied on the tariffs and then there were the additional charges for booster and pumping stations,” said a DJB official. Meanwhile, when asked about the free 20,000 kilolitres of free water every month to metered households, the residents looked quite indifferent.
“It is important to understand that the essence of Dwarka is the group housing societies. There are only around 15-20 housing societies in the region which have separate water meters for every household. Around 349 of the other group housing societies have only a single meter where water is supplied in bulk. The free water policy will hardly affect any of us,” said Mukesh Sinha, President, Federation of Dwarka Cooperative Group Housing Societies (FDCGHS).