HON’BLE LG ANNOUNCES SLEW OF WATER SUPPLY IMPROVEMENT MEASURES

HON’BLE LG ANNOUNCES SLEW OF WATER SUPPLY IMPROVEMENT MEASURES
500 Water ATMs to be set-up across Delhi

In a review meeting by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Shri Najeeb Jung, held today, at the Raj Niwas, important issues related to bringing about improvement in the water and sewerage services offered by the Delhi Jal Board were discussed. The meeting was attended by the CEO, DJB, and all the Members of the Board in-charge of the Administration, Finance, Water Supply and Drainage portfolios.
As a result of the meeting, and under the direction of the Hon’ble LG of Delhi, the Delhi Jal Board has taken a slew of decisions to help boost its water supply services. The measures would provide convenience to its consumers and respite in the summer months.

INSTALLATION OF MORE THAN 500 WATER ATMS
As a part of this initiative, the Hon’ble LG of Delhi has approved, in principle, the replication of the existing model of Water ATMs running at Savda Ghevra in over 500 locations in a phased manner. This will help supplement water supply in water deficit areas, providing the consumers with an automated, easily accessible, demand based affordable supply system. The Hon’ble LG has also directed to fast-track the installation of 10 Water ATMs, under the first phase of the scheme, in South-West Delhi, by the first week of July, 2014.
DJB has, also, placed orders for the installation of 10 RO-based Plants within the following 3 months, with more than 50 water ATMs in various resettlement colonies. This will be carried-out in collaboration with the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) which will provide land for setting-up of the RO plants.
Further, DJB has also identified various water deficient areas as directed by Hon’ble LG, where more than 500 ATMs are being planned. The Board will appoint Hyderabad-based Administrative Staff College of India as its transaction advisor with a timeline of three months to design the project.
WATER SUPPLY IN 40 UNAUTHORIZED COLONIES TO BENEFIT OVER 1.5 LAKH PEOPLE
The Delhi Jal Board has also undertaken the work of commissioning its Underground Reservoir (UGR) in Kirari and at Sector 29, Rohini, by the 2nd week of July, 2014. This project is being expedited to provide relief to over 1.5 lakh residents of the area in the summer months. Further, another reservoir at Qutab Garh will also be commissioned by the 2nd week of July, 2014, which would improve the water supply system in many areas of North-West Delhi providing convenience to the consumers. Both these initiatives would benefit residents from over 40 Unauthorized Colonies and residents of Rohini area.

AUGMENTATION OF GROUND WATER RESOURCES IN PALLA REGION
In order to explore the possibility of augmenting the existing water supply by 15 Million Gallons per Day (MGD), i.e., from 20 MGD to 35 MGD, from its ranney wells and tube-wells, the Board commissioned a study by M/s WAPCOS Ltd. Consequently, the existing ranney wells and tube-wells will be rehabilitated and shall be operated on automated Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. The carrier system for supplying this water to the command areas will also be rehabilitated in phase-I. The implementation of the project shall benefit the consumers residing in the Palla region.

FACILITATE SEWER CONNECTIONS FOR UNAUTHORIZED COLONIES;
REVISED POLICY TO LEVY SEWER DEVELOPMENT CHARGES
DJB has been able to provide financial relief to the residents of these colonies by providing a huge reduction in the development charges, especially in the case of smaller plots. To illustrate the accrued benefits, a plot-holder of 100 sq. yards, earlier, would have to pay INR 49,400 @ INR 494/- per sq. mt. but now would have to pay a sum of only INR 5,000.
This decision would not only provide relief to the residents of these colonies by ensuring better environmental and living conditions but would also help prevent untreated sewage from flowing into the drains and, eventually, into the River Yamuna.
The Board has revised the policy with regard to levy of Sewer Development Charge so as to enable the residents of such unauthorized colonies to pay a lump-sum/consolidated amount for obtaining a legalized sewer connection and to connect it with the sewerage facilities provided by the Delhi Jal Board in the concerned colonies (D to H) as per the rates specified below:
PLOT SIZES

(SQ. YARDS) SEWER DEVELOPMENT CHARGE
(INR/Plot) Upto 100 Sq yards 5,000 Above 100 Sq yards and upto 250 sq yard 10,000 Above 250 Sq. yards and upto 500 Sq. yards 20,000 Above 500 Sq. yards 50,000
These rates will be applicable only for the colonies falling under the Category D to Category H, as per the categorization done by the House Tax Department. However, for the colonies falling under the categories A, B and C, the existing notified rates will prevail.

FULL COMMISSIONING OF 20 MGD OKHLA WTP
DJB is actively looking at an out-of-the-box solution to fully commission the Okhla Water Treatment Plant (WTP). Currently, the WTP is running at a partial design capacity of 50% as the water has not been released from the Munak Canal. The full commissioning of this 20 MGD facility is likely to benefit a population of over 3 lakh in the water deficient areas of South Delhi.
Other than the execution of the projects under the short term plan, the Hon’ble LG of Delhi has directed the Board to prepare a long term holistic master plan regarding the sewer and water services by the 1st week of August, 2014, which will provide the basis for executing works related to water and sewer services.

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