The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has written a letter to the chief secretary of Delhi requesting his intervention in resolving the long-pending water woes caused by the inaction of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) in the residential colonies of the department.
“I would like to draw your kind attention to the non-completion of various schemes of DJB for which infrastructure charges have already been paid by DDA. However, the schemes could not be completed yet. At some locations, the necessary water connections have not been provided; as a result, water is not being supplied by DJB to the various colonies developed by DDA. Consequently, the DDA has to supply water in those colonies through water tankers, causing an extra financial burden,” the letter said.
It added, “In addition, there are certain water supply and sewerage schemes of DDA for which infrastructure charges have already been paid, but the schemes are not approved till date, including some schemes of Narela sub-city which have been pending with DJB since 2013. As a result, DDA is unable to develop such areas.”
Even as the department has paid a hefty infrastructure charge of Rs 1,059 crore for 23 water supply and sewerage schemes, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has neither approved these schemes nor supplied water in areas like Dwarka, Rohini, Kalkaji, Vasant Kunj, Jasola, and Narela, among others, the DDA vice chairman Vijay Kumar Singh said in his communication.
“It is kindly informed that the total infrastructure charges paid by DDA to DJB are to the tune of Rs 1,058.77 crores for 23 schemes of water supply and 11 schemes of sewerage. Details of the same are enclosed herewith for your ready reference as Annexure-'A',” the letter said.
Singh added, “In view of the above, may I request your kind intervention to give suitable directions to the concerned officers in resolving the above long-pending issues, including providing water connections for the supply of water to DDA colonies and also approving the pending schemes of DDA.”