Dwarka water plant still shut, areas in west suffer

Water shortage continued to impact colonies in west, central and north Delhi on Wednesday as the Dwarka treatment plant remained shut despite increased supply of raw water from Haryana.

The supply of Yamuna water from Haryana remained disrupted amid signs of gradual increase from the 120 MGD it had dropped to on Tuesday. This is against the peak requirement of nearly 600 MGD.

Delhi’s Water Minister Kapil Mishra said the Dwarka water treatment plant was still paralysed and during the crisis period colonies in the area shall get tap water supply every alternate day.

“Efforts are on to link the Dwarka plant to Nangloi plant which is fully functional,” said a Delhi Jal Board official, hinting that water may be supplied in Dwarka area on Thursday.

As a result of Dwarka plant’s paralysis, residents and commercial establishments continued to suffer due to water shortage.

Mishra, who inspected on Tuesday night the damage caused at the site of the breach in Haryana’s Munak canal by Jat quota protesters, said: “Return of normalcy may take another 15 days.”

He said Haiderpur, Bawana, Nangloi and Chandrawal water treatment plants had touched full capacity. “The Wazirabad and Okhla treatment plant are working under partial capacity,” he said.

Till the time the Dwarka plant is non-functional, more water tankers are being diverted from west Delhi to Dwarka and Janakpuri, said a DJB official.

With the approaching summer, the Munak canal breach is proving to be a test for the DJB’s tanker fleet. The crisis is likely to last two weeks, while the damage caused by the Jat agitation is repaired.

The DJB Board is battling to restore full supplies to the city of 17 million people which relies heavily on the canal running through neighbouring Haryana.

Troops were sent to secure the canal after protesters, demanding a quota for Jats in public service jobs and higher education, seized it last Saturday and diverted the water flow away from the capital.

Areas where taps are running dry include Vasant Vihar, Vasant Enclave,  Westend,  Anand Niketan, Shanti Niketan, Lado Sarai, Sadh Nagar, Airport Authority of India, Palam, Dwarka, Raj Nagar, Mahavir Enclave I, II  and  III, Indra Park, Sitapuri, Uttam Nagar group of colonies, Dabri, Mansa Ram Park, Matiyala, Baprola, Madhu Vihar, Janak Puri, Vikas Puri, Lajwanti Garden, Naraina, Indrapuri, Keshavpur and Kirari.