The BJP-led Haryana Government has reduced water supply to Wazirabad plant and this has affected North Delhi, Central Delhi and North-East district areas. Due to short supply, the production of Wazirabad Water Treatment Plant (WTP) has been reduced by 25 per cent-30 per cent.
There is no water supply for the past three days in colonies like Model Town, Nehru Vihar, Delhi University area, Vijay Nagar, Yamuna Vihar, Karawal Nagar, Mukherjee Nagar, Civil lines, Sadatpur, Bhajanpura, Budh Vihar, Nand Nagri, Seemapuri, New Seemapuri, Sunder Nagri, Kheda Village, Tahirpur Village, Mandoli, Saboli, GTB Enclave, leprosy Complex (Tahirpur), Harsh Vihar, Dilshad Garden, Dilshad Colony, Jagatpuri Extension, Nathu Colony School Block and Jhilmil Industrial Areas, Haqikat Nagar and its adjoining areas. It is expected that over 8 lakh-10 lakh people are affected. The total capacity of Wazirabad Water Treatment Plant is 120 million gallon water per day (MGD). Delhi and Haryana are also at loggerheads over Munak Canal.
Interestingly, despite repeated reminders by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Irrigation Department of Haryana, which looks after the Water Supply Department did not respond. The matter was raised by Delhi Government officials at a meeting with Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday. According to officials, Urban Development Minister has assured to take up the issue with Haryana Government soon.
Sources in DJB said that Jal Board has been regularly appraising the situation to his counterpart chief engineer (Yamuna Water Supply) Rajiv Verma through SMS, telephone and written communication. The depletion in Wazirabad pond level has resulted in curtailment of production at the Water Treatment Plant by more than 25 per cent. The normal water level in Wazirabad pond is 674.5 ft, which has been depleted to less than 673 ft only despite heavy rains on Sunday.
Delhi Jal Board officials alleged that Haryana is not releasing adequate water to Wazirabad pond to maintain the required level. “Curtailment in production at the Wazirabad plants is causing lot of inconvenience since many areas on the command of the plant have started facing acute shortage of drinking water supply in winter season.
You are fully aware that any reduction in supply of water to the Wazirabad pond is clear violation of Supreme Court orders dated February 29, 1996,” officials said.
Sardar Kulwant Singh, a resident of Mukherjee Nagar, said that there was no supply of water for the last three days. “They are forced to buy water from the market to meet their daily requirements,” said Singh.