NEW DELHI: Water Minister Atishi on Friday pulled up Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar over the persistent issue of severe water shortages experienced by residents of various parts of south Delhi.
Despite repeated directives issued by the minister to the Chief Secretary during the onset of summer, the issue has not been addressed, the minister said, expressing dissapointment over the action of the top bureaucrat.
The minister said the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) enforced in view of the Lok Sabha polls, is being cited as an excuse by the Chief Secretary and other senior officers of the Delhi government to put all work on hold. “The MCC cannot be an excuse to deprive citizens of their basic right by the senior officers of GNCTD,” she said.
“I have been getting complaints of serious water shortage in Aya Nagar, Bapu Camp, Sambhav Camp, Maidan Gadhi, Kharak Revada, Mandi, Asola Band Road, Sanjay Colony, Bhati Mines, Indira Enclave, Freedom Fighter Colony and Jonapur Colony,” she said. directing the Chief Secretary to ensure that 5 MGD (million gallons per day) of drinkable water, allocated for Chhatarpur UGR (underground reservoir), reaches there regularly.
Besides, the minister also directed, “Boring and commissioning of requisitioned tubewells should be done on an emergency basis within one week. Number of water tankers to be increased to the same number as last year’s summer by April 15 and daily compliance report to be submitted to the minister by 6 pm, till all the above issues are resolved.”
The Water minister asserted the urgent need for resolution of the issues reported, emphasising that water is a fundamental necessity for all individuals. It is incumbent upon both the Chief Secretary and the Delhi Jal Board to ensure access to clean, potable water for every household in Delhi. The Assembly has passed a resolution in this regard.
The minister has highlighted the reduction of the number of water tankers deployed compared to last summer; many borewells have been sanctioned, yet the necessary work, including reboring of existing borewells, has not been completed, the minister noted.