NEW DELHI: The Delhi Government is working on a comprehensive Water Master Plan, with a provision to rope in private players, to help address water supply challenges in the national capital, Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said on Saturday.
Under the proposed plan, a detailed study of the existing infrastructure and future expansion will be undertaken while taking into account the city’s increasing population.
Addressing the media, the minister said, “There is a need for a holistic approach towards fixing the water sector challenges that we face. For the first time, a Water Master Plan will be presented. For this, we have hired a consultant company which is studying all major aspects, including sources of water, future requirements, maintenance of pipelines and other related issues.” Another key aspect of the plan will be decentralisation and partial privatisation of the Delhi Jal Board distribution network.
“Within the next one year, we will float tenders inviting big private players for the management of each of DJB’s existing eight command centres. In the future, these companies will be given individual zones and will be responsible for managing major operations in those areas,” the minister said in a statement. Each company will be tasked with repairing and replacing old water pipelines billing and revenue collection, and ensuring regular water supply.
An official said work has already begun at the Chandrawal Water Treatment Plant command centre, including improvements in supply infrastructure, replacement of old pipelines, provision of house service connections and upgradation of underground reservoirs. The official added that tenders will soon be floated for East, North-East, West and South-West zones, for which detailed project reports are being prepared.
Delhi, a largely urbanised city with a rapidly growing population, requires extensive water supply and sewage treatment infrastructure. In 2016, the Delhi government had introduced a water policy outlining a roadmap for the following nine years.
“Besides increasing water supply, we are also studying ways to reduce transmission losses. Previous DJB reports and studies are being examined while preparing this comprehensive master plan for the future,” Singh added. Currently, the city’s average water production ranges between 900 and 1,000 million gallons per day, against an estimated requirement of around 1,200 MGD.
REFORM AGENDA
Study of existing water infrastructure and future expansion
Plan focuses on sources, demand and pipeline maintenance
Tenders soon for management of eight command centres
Private firms to manage water operations in zones
Companies to repair pipelines and ensure regular supply
Work underway at Chandrawal water treatment command centre