Report Card – Year One

Water, electricity, education, health, transport, corruption and women safety have been the main poll promises of the AAP Govt. Government seems to have taken baby steps in the first year in all the areas which will have visible impact in the next one or two years. I shall give, in my next few posts, account of those initiatives taken by the government in the first year, in each of above areas, which are largely untouched by most of the media. This post covers water segment.

1)Delhi is getting the most quantity of water, it has ever got. By starting treatment at Dwarka, Bawana and Okhla plants, which were lying unused for years, treated water supply reaching a peak of 900 million gallons per day (MGD) in the past one year. Currently Delhi gets 930 MG raw water per day. Further 15MGD to get from Palla soon. Increased water supply was largely due to resolving Munak water dispute with Haryana Govt.

2) Three new water treatment plants, 12 new underground reservoirs.

3) Scrapping annual hike in water rates.

4) 120km of new pipelines have been laid in a year. 205 colonies have been added to the network. 534 colonies still remain to be covered.

5) Currently, 81.9% households are covered by piped network. DJB expects to cover entire city by Dec. 2017 except where there are legal complications.

6) 1.40 lakh new water connections during last one year. Total number of water connections gone up by 9.19%

7) In spite of 20kl free water scheme, saving in consumption by 2 lac gallons water per day as compared to last year. This can cater 1.25 lac households. Hence, wastage of water reduced.

8) For the first time in its history, the sub-city of Dwarka in South-West Delhi has got piped water. Almost all unauthorized colonies of Dwarka and Bawana are getting water.

9) 120 wells had been sealed in Dwarka, and 45 DJB tankers and 72 DDA tankers had been phased out. the tankers and bore wells that sustained the sub-city since 2000 have almost disappeared.

10) Even though 38.8% of the DJB’s 23 lakh consumers avail of the 20kl free water, the revenue has not only recovered extra cost of 165 crore due to free water but also gone up by 178 Crore as compared to previous year.

Capital’s glass is finally looking half full. more