Sangam Vihar water woes to end soon

Areas to get supply on alternate days

To solve the problem of piped water not reaching tail end areas in Sangam Vihar, the Delhi Jal Board has come up with a solution to divide the constituency into two segments and provide water on alternate days.

In Sangam Vihar area, which has been perennially suffering from acute water shortage, the work of laying pipelines started last year. While some residents started receiving water, a large chunk complained that they are not able to benefit from the piped network supply.

“Maximum water is being consumed by people at the initial stages of the piped network and does not reach people at the tail end.

“The water coming through pipeline has a flowing system but since there are no meters in the constituency, a lot of water is being wasted as people at the initial stage keep taps open and use fresh water for purposes like washing their cars,” said Delhi Jal Board Vice Chairman Dinesh Mohaniya, who is also the MLA from the area.

To overcome this problem, Mohaniya has divided the constituency into two segments, one comprising of areas at the tail end and other at the initial stages. "These areas will get water on alternate days so that people at the last stage of the network also receive water," he said.

Shutting valves

This will be done by shutting of the water valves of houses in the initial stages on days when water has to be provided to the people at the tail end. This is a pilot project and will be executed next week.

If successful, it may be applied to other unauthorised colonies in the city suffering from water shortage. However, groundwater supply through bore wells and tube wells will be given on a routine basis.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) of the constituency called by Mohaniya on Sunday where people were told not to waste water.

Sangam Vihar in South east Delhi, has 38 unauthorised colonies which have been prone to water crisis and people mostly rely on tankers, tube wells, bore wells, and public hydrants for their water needs as till recently there was no piped supply.

The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has now laid down a temporary distribution network and it claims to connect every house with the piped network by the end of this year.

“Rs 90 crore has been sanctioned for Sangam Vihar to lay down pipelines. The work is in good pace and this will be done hopefully by the end of this year,” Mohaniya said.