Contaminated water, leaks due to years of neglect: Verma

Issues like contaminated water, pipeline leakages and irregular water supply in the national capital are not recent but the result of years of neglect, Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma said on Friday, in apparent reference to the erstwhile AAP regime.

Making this assertion in the assembly, he also said these chronic problems arose due to indecision and delay by the previous Governments. Parvesh Sahib Singh said that the Delhi Government has identified around 7,900 km of 20 to 30-year-old pipelines, which will be replaced in the next two to three years to ensure the supply of clean drinking water to city residents.

“We did not create these problems—we inherited them. The difference is that we are not running away from responsibility; we are delivering solutions,” said Parvesh Sahib Singh.

Presenting a detailed and fact-based statement in the Assembly, the Minister stated that the Delhi Government and Delhi Jal Board, with the support of the Government of India, are fully committed to ensuring a clean, equitable and continuous (24x7) water supply to every household in Delhi. However, he said the current government inherited a dilapidated and severely neglected water infrastructure.

Addressing the House, the Water Minister highlighted that out of Delhi’s 16,000 km water pipeline network, over 5,200 km of pipelines are more than 30 years old. Also, around 2,700 km of pipelines are 20–30 years old, he said.

As a result, the city has been facing frequent leakages, pipeline bursts, contamination risks and Non-Revenue Water (NRW) losses of up to 55 per cent. “When pipelines are 30 years old, it is not water that flows – problems do,” the Minister remarked.

Parvesh Sahib Singh informed the Assembly that the Chandrawal and Wazirabad water reform projects, proposed as early as 2011, remained stalled for years due to indecision, repeated tender cancellations and conflicts with funding agencies under the previous Government.

The Chandrawal Command Area Project includes coverage of 96 sq km, catering to nearly 22 lakh people, he said, adding tenders were cancelled in 2020. Also, work was not awarded despite financial bids opening in 2021, the minister said. He also mentioned the violation of JICA guidelines and repeated changes in DPR, scope and schedule of rates.

“Had the work been completed on time, Delhi would have received clean water. Delays were engineered to favour select contractors,” the Minister said. The Wazirabad Project includes coverage of 123 sq km and a population of 30 lakh, and the project cost escalated from Rs 2,243 crore to Rs 3,715 crore, he said, adding the ADB withdrew funding on 22 October 2020. The entire project came to a standstill, the minister said. “Private interests were placed above the rights of Delhi’s residents,” he added.

The Water Minister stated that within just 11 months, the current government has taken swift, transparent and decisive steps to revive and reform Delhi’s water sector. Rs 7,212 Crore Worth of 94 major projects were approved, including water pipelines, sewerage networks and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs).

As regards the revival of the Chandrawal Project, the remaining packages were awarded in November 2025 with a total cost of Rs 2,406 crore.  They included 1,044 km of new pipelines and 21 Underground Reservoirs (UGRs) benefiting nine Assembly constituencies, he said. He said the Rs 3,715 crore Wazirabad Project was revived with the ADB assistance. The project covers 1,697 km of new pipelines and 14 UGRs, benefiting 11 Assembly constituencies.

“Where previous governments abandoned projects, we chose the people of Delhi,” said Parvesh Sahib Singh.

On the issue of regular water supply to unauthorised colonies and villages, he informed that 262 new tube wells were commissioned and 200 km of new pipelines laid.

The newly commissioned UGRs include Palla — 37 MLD, Bijwasan – 9 MLD and Siraspur — 12 MLD, he said. For trunk sewers that had not been cleaned for decades, Rs 170 crore were allocated and 100 km of trunk sewers desilted, the minister said. “Cleaning sewers is not merely technical work—it is a public health imperative,” he said. Making a major announcement, the Water Minister said, “Until every household is connected to the sewer network, septic tank cleaning will be provided completely free of cost.” He said 300 new Government-operated tankers providing relief from private tanker exploitation.

The Delhi Government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to enhance water availability and talks are on with Himachal Pradesh for 113 MGD additional water discussions with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for 51 cusecs of water, he said.

We did not create these problems—we inherited them. The difference is that we are not running away from responsibility; we are delivering solutions

            — Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, Water Minister