JOIN USDJB refutes Kejriwal charges
A day after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal levelled allegations of a scam taking place in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) worth Rs 10,000 crore, the Board refuted them saying that he presented an inaccurate picture without knowing the facts.
On Saturday, Kejriwal had alleged that Sonia Vihar water treatment plant received 90 MGD of raw water and claimed to produce 140 MGD of treated water with the government paying them more for extra 50 MGD. However, as per DJB, the fact is that Sonia Vihar Treatment Plant receives more than 140 MGD raw water from UP. The Board said UP Jal Nigam and Tehri Hydro Power Project could also confirm this.
“However, pending the signing of an MoU for Sonia Vihar on account payments are being made to UP for 90 MGD, based on the existing agreement for the Bhagirathi Water Treatment Plant,” said DJB spokesperson Sanjam Cheema. She said even the allegations of DJB paying the Nangloi project contractor more than what it cost the Board to produce and supply water were false.
The treatment of water costs DJB Rs 15.43 per kilolitre which includes the cost of bulk water, power, treatment cost, distribution, interest on loan and depreciation thereof.
“The contract awarded for Nangloi, through an open and transparent bidding process, is billed Rs 14.99 per kilolitre and collected. This includes all operation and maintenance costs (excluding power and raw water),” the spokesperson said
“It also includes return on investment of 30 per cent of Rs 458.54 crores required to extend piped water supply to all households in the service area and maintain continuous supply with pressure to reach up to the third floor,” she added.
Cheema said operator had been incentivised to reduce commercial and physical losses and would be paid only for water billed and collected.
She said it had been estimated that continuing with the existing system would cost the exchequer an amount of approximately Rs 115 crores over a period of 15 years against a cash surplus of approximately Rs 123 crores in case the project is executed in the proposed format.
Thus going ahead with proposed project will help DJB to gain an amount of roughly Rs 238 crore over a period of 15 years, that will be reinvested in water and waste water services. Meanwhile, Kejriwal and his party members held rallies in various parts of the city on Sunday asking the people to not pay water and electricity bills.