Residents, officials give mixed reactions to changes in Jal Board

Some Delhiites on Tuesday welcomed the Arvind Kejriwal government’s decision to transfer 800 employees in the Delhi Jal Board, while others said only time will tell if the move would benefit citizens.

A day after the massive transfers in DJB, the topic was the talking point in the water utility’s headquarters. 

The Delhi government on Monday suspended three officials of the water distribution utility and shifted some 800 others in a bid to streamline its service delivery mechanism. Almost all the 800 transferred employees were working in DJB’s 25 water emergencies and filling points.

Amarpreet Singh, east Delhi resident, welcomed the transfers in DJB. “It’s a good decision as these employees have been sitting at the same post for years. It’s needless to say that they had become complacent. Now, at least there is hope that every citizen in the capital will get adequate water,” said Singh.

Monisha Kaur, a private firm employee, said, “Such transfers should happen as it reduces the amount of corruption going on in a particular department. It may be the first step towards making the DJB more accountable.”

Rajeev Sharma, a communications executive from Green Park, said, “Transferring government officials from one office to another is not the solution. Using the same concept, government school teachers were transferred in Bihar to improve the quality of education back in 1990, but nothing happened. Instead, the situation has worsened over the years.”

He, however, said the corrupt should not be spared. “Legal action should be initiated and those found involved in corruption should be terminated from service,” he said.
Sourabh Aggarwal, a resident of Pahar Ganj, said, “This is an easy thing to do, but they have only been shifted and not removed. Only their posting place has changed; they remain the same employees. They will lie low for a while, but then they will find ways. It will be interesting to see if the AAP government can really control corruption.”
The DJB headquarters at Varunalaya Building in Karol Bagh was abuzz with the new government’s move to transfer 800 employees who were dealing with tanker supply and water complaints.

Employees of the Delhi Jal Board talked in hushed tones and hoped the changes initiated by the chief minister would do some good for people and employees.
“We do not know what is in store next,” an official said.

S Chima, DJB’s consultant (public relations), gave the justification behind the transfers. “The endeavour is to change to being a cutting edge services provider in the area of public utility,” she said.