DJB holds meetings with MLAs

Focus on meeting water production levels above 900 m gallons per day

To brace itself for the approaching summer, the Delhi Jal Board, in a first, has held meetings with city MLAs and has invited suggestions to improve water supply in their constituencies.

“We have held meetings with them since they know better about the situation in their areas well during which they informed us about water and sewerage issues and requested an increase in tankers for certain locations,” said a senior Delhi Jal Board (DJB) official.

The meetings are a part of the preparation of the Summer Action Plan (SAP) for 2016 which will be unveiled on March 31. The board is currently focusing on maintaining the water production levels above 900 million gallons per day (MGD) throughout the season.

“We will make sure that the production level does not go down than 900 MGD,” he said.

Besides, the DJB’s internal plan to avoid shutting its two water treatment plants when the ammonia level rises in the river is nearing completion and will be ready soon.

In the past two months, extremely high levels of pollution in Yamuna had forced the closure of production of portable water from its plants multiple times. This resulted in water shortage for Delhiites.

Internal system

An internal system was then planned to take the clean water separately from a pipeline and cutting-off supply from the Wazirabad pond, which gets contaminated water when the ammonia level rises. The project is costing the DJB around Rs 1.5 crore.

In addition to this, an ‘ammonia neutraliser’ machine is also being installed.In its action plan, the DJB is also promising at least 700 water dispensing units at public places to provide free drinking water.

“The first one is to be installed this month and a total of 110 will come up by April in the first phase,” the official said.

Various bus stands, queue shelters, and prominent public places are being identified where these kiosks will be installed with the help of CSR funds of private companies. The unit will have a capacity of 500 litres and a consumer can draw 150 ml of “good quality water” at one go.