Rs 9,000 crore push for clean drinking water, sanitation

The Delhi Government on Tuesday allocated a sum of Rs 9,000 crore for the water and sanitation sector in a bid to provide clean water and sanitation to every citizen of Delhi.

“Our goal is to provide clean water to Delhi’s 3 crore population so that the gap between the daily demand of 1,290 MGD and the current installed capacity of 1,000 MGD can be bridged,” Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said in the Assembly.

To combat recent tanker scams that plagued the city during peak summer, the government will implement a GPS tracking system for water tankers, along with the launch of an Android app, “DJB Tanker”, that will allow citizens to monitor and track tankers in real-time, ensuring accountability and transparency in the water delivery system.

“We have decided to take consultancy services for water sector projects at a cost of Rs 10 crore so that water supply and sewerage-related schemes can be operated in a better manner,” the CM said.

With Delhi’s demand for water exceeding supply, the government has committed Rs 100 crore for new bore wells and Ranney wells, Rs 50 crore for reviving water bodies and Rs 50 crore for rainwater harvesting.

Additionally, Rs 200 crore will be used to replace open canals with pipelines from Haryana, reducing water loss and ensuring a more efficient supply.