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New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Delhi's water lifeline set for overhaul with new master plan
NEW DELHI: To modernise Delhi's ageing water supply system, the Delhi government has launched a new Water Master Plan, which includes replacing old water pipelines, Water Minister Parvesh Verma announced on Saturday. During a visit to his constituency, Verma highlighted that many existing pipelines—some 40 to 80 years old—are a major cause of water contamination and frequent supply disruptions. 'There are several areas in Delhi where people are receiving polluted water, and the primary reason is the decades-old pipelines,' he stated. Verma criticised the previous administration, alleging that it had failed to improve the city's water infrastructure. 'They did not lay even a single new pipeline,' he said. He assured residents that the current government has moved beyond announcements and begun visible work on the ground. 'The budget has been passed, tenders approved, and in some areas, work is already underway,' Verma said, pledging timely and transparent execution of all projects. 'This government is only five months old, but in one year, Delhi's face will change,' Verma added. As part of his outreach, he visited several locations, including D-Block Gole Market, Gurudwara Flats in Rakabganj, and Type-II Flats in Sarojini Nagar. Meanwhile, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) recently launched a project to replace worn-out pipelines in East Delhi, shortly after the Delhi High Court criticised it for supplying 'sewage-mixed' water. The court's remarks came during a hearing on a public interest litigation filed by residents of Yojna Vihar, Anand Vihar, and Jagriti Enclave, who complained of contaminated water in their localities. The Delhi High Court had earlier expressed concern over the Delhi Jal Board's failure and asked how citizens could be expected to consume such unsafe water. It directed that all related work be completed by August, warning that any delay would be taken seriously. The pipeline upgrade initiative followed Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's directive in May, when she chaired a high-level Delhi Jal Board meeting. Gupta had called for urgent steps to overhaul Delhi's outdated water and sewer infrastructure, emphasising clean and safe drinking water as a basic right for all residents.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Delhi Jal Board orders joint drive to control dengue sprsead
NEW DELHI: As Delhi enters the peak monsoon period, the Delhi Jal Board has directed its estate managers to launch a citywide sanitation and anti-mosquito drive to curb the spread of vector-borne diseases. The move comes after CM Rekha Gupta raised concern over an early spike in dengue cases during a recent high-level meeting. An official DJB order has called for urgent action to prevent mosquito breeding in and around all its establishments, including offices and residential colonies. Estate managers and drawing and disbursing officers have been instructed to coordinate with the MCD and the Health Department to roll out preventive measures promptly. 'All are aware that the rainy season has arrived... helpful for mosquitoes of Dengue, Chikungunya, Malaria etc. It is our duty to prevent mosquito breeding,' the communication stated. The directive mandates regular cleaning of water-prone equipment sites and areas where water may accumulate. A special sanitation and fogging drive has been ordered, and any negligence will invite strict action, with full accountability on the concerned officials, DJB warned.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
DJB asks officials to work with MCD, Health Department to prevent vector borne diseases
NEW DELHI: As Delhi enters the peak monsoon period, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has ordered its estate managers to initiate a city-wide sanitation and anti-mosquito drive in a bid to curb the spread of vector-borne diseases. The move comes close on the heels of an alarm by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who flagged an early rise in dengue cases during a high-level meeting earlier this week. An official order issued by the DJB has called for immediate action to prevent mosquito breeding in and around all DJB establishments, including office complexes and residential colonies. The agency has directed its estate managers and drawing and disbursing officers (DDOs) to work in close coordination with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the health department to roll out preventive measures without delay. 'As all are aware that the rainy season has arrived in the capital city of Delhi and it is helpful for mosquitoes of Dengue, Chikungunya, Malaria etc. It is our duty to take care of prevention of mosquitoes breeding,' the official communication stated, calling on officers to step up efforts to keep their premises clean and hygienic. The directive specifically mentions that all equipment sites or locations where water may accumulate must be cleaned regularly to avoid stagnation. A special sanitation drive has been ordered across DJB offices and residential areas, with mandatory fogging operations to be coordinated by estate managers in consultation with local civic and health authorities. The DJB has also warned of strict accountability in case of negligence, stating that any lapse would be viewed seriously and responsibility will lie with the officials concerned. Earlier on Wednesday, the Chief Minister chaired a meeting at the Delhi Secretariat where she said that the next two months will be crucial in tackling the spread of diseases such as dengue and malaria.
Hindustan Times
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
With no takers, controversial SE Delhi bungalow to turn guest house
The controversial bungalow allegedly constructed in 2021 by a former top Delhi Jal Board official after demolishing a 15th-century monument in south east Delhi's Jal Vihar near Lajpat Nagar is now likely to be converted into a guest house, senior government functionaries confirmed. The bungalow in Jal Vihar, which is likely to be converted into a guest house (HT Archive) The bungalow has been lying vacant since September 2023. In April that year, it had emerged that the monument was allegedly demolished by the then DJB chief executive officer Udit Prakash Rai to build a new government accommodation for himself. A senior government functionary said that the bungalow has been offered to multiple senior officials but no one has been willing to use it as an accommodation 'due the controversy associated with it'. 'We are now planning to use it as a guest house so that the building is utilised,' the official cited aboveadded. Water minister Parvesh Verma also confirmed to HT that plans for the same are afoot. Officials, however, said that since the plot is marked only for residential use, its land use will have to be changed if it is converted into any other facility. Last year, DJB officials had floated the idea of converting the house into a laboratory cum training centre. The accommodation was at the centre of controversy in April 2023 after the Directorate of Vigilance issued a show cause notice to Prakash for allegedly razing the monument to construct a house for himself. The vigilance department said there was a 'monument' and a 'gateway' at this property. The monument also featured in the Archaeological Survey of India's 'List of Muhammadan and Hindu Monuments, Vol. IV' and is referred to as a 'Mahal'. It was built during the Sayyid rule in Delhi in 1418. The notice said that Rai was responsible for the demolition, violating residential accommodation rules. It added that while Rai was entitled to a type V government housing, the built-up area of the house replacing the monument was 700 sqm, which exceeded the prescribed area of 403 sqm. Nearly ₹4 crore was spent on building the house, the department said. On July 31, 2023, the Union home affairs ministry suspended Rai and asked him to vacate the house. Rai and his family left in September 2023, and the house has been vacant since then. A government functionary said that senior officers have been reluctant to take it up as an accommodation. '...The property still belongs to no one wants to be associated with the controversy.'
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How Delhi Plans To Plug Water Leaks
New Delhi: With more than half of Delhi's water supply remaining unaccounted for, the govt has engaged a consultant to address the problem and significantly reduce the water loss rate, chief minister Rekha Gupta told Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday. Officials reported that a staggering 58% of water was wasted in transmission in the city, much higher than the national average of around 20%. In a meeting with Shah, Gupta said the consultant would not only identify the reasons behind such a high rate of water leakage but also suggest measures to strengthen the distribution network and improve infrastructure. This will ensure that the number of domestic water connections increases and the supply of potable water reaches every household through taps. According to Delhi Jal Board 's data, Delhi has a 15,600-kilometre water supply network, catering to 21.5 million consumers after treatment at nine treatment plants. A large amount of water is wasted due to 2,800km of the network being older than three decades. The network covers around 93.5% of the city, but the number of connections currently stands at only 2.9 million. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The chief minister informed Shah that the consultant would study DJB's three previous reports on reducing non-revenue water, prepared in 2003, 2011 and 2021, and come up with a strategy to strengthen the distribution network and draft consolidated schemes to increase water connections and improve the billing system. She added that a pilot to strengthen the distribution network had already started in northeast Delhi. Gupta added that DJB had also sought the help of the central govt to reduce the percentage of non-revenue water and systematically increase the number of connections and evaluate groundwater as a source to augment the supply of potable water. She said at least three meetings were held with the Union housing and urban affairs ministry and Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation for this purpose. Sources said Delhi govt had also decided to engage a project management unit for effective monitoring of various big-ticket projects to augment water and sewage treatment capacity. A request for proposal to engage a project management unit is likely to be floated within a few weeks, Gupta informed Shah. DJB has also started a drive to fill up a large number of posts of engineers and officers, the home minister was informed. While the process to engage junior engineers through Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineers has started, retired engineers will also be hired on a contractual basis for senior positions, CM said. DJB has engaged National Productivity Council for the restructuring of its manpower. Gupta said sewage treatment plants were upgraded in Rohini, Narela, Coronation Pillar and Keshopur phases II and III and the govt made necessary changes to ensure the upgradation of the Chandrawal and Waziarabad plants. The Chandrawal WTP was stuck due to non-felling of trees.
