The AAP government in Delhi on Monday proposed supply clean drinking water to each and every household by December next year.
The AAP government in Delhi on Monday proposed supply clean drinking water to each and every household by December next year. Presenting the Budget, city finance minister Manish Sisodia said despite being in the national capital, people have to drink bottled water. “Our aim is to provide drinking water through pipelines to all households in authorised or unauthorised colonies by December 2017,” he said in his Budget speech,
The finance minister said it was the endeavour of the Kejriwal government to supply clean drinking water to every person and “eradicate the water tanker mafia” from the city. “Some 300 new unauthorised colonies will be provided piped water supply in the year 2016-17. I have allocated Rs 676 crore for this purpose. Our government had taken a decision earlier to provide 20 kilolitres of water free of cost to every citizen and this budget only emphasises our commitment towards the people of Delhi,” he added.
The Kejriwal government also proposed to partly or fully waive arrears of people in connection with disputed or inflated water bills. “We have decided to waive 100 per cent arrears for the consumers belonging to ‘E,’ ‘F,’ ‘G’ & ‘H’ category colonies, 75 per cent in ‘D’ category, 50 per cent in ‘C’ and 25 per cent in ‘A’ & ‘B’ categories with complete remission of late payment surcharge.”
With regard to water connection, the city government also proposed to reduce the development charge from Rs 440 per sqm to Rs 100 per sqm in unauthorised colonies enrolling and benefiting almost 1,30,000 consumers.
Mr Sisodia also said the AAP government has increased 10 per cent of potable water by commissioning three major water treatment plants at Dwarka, Bawana and Okhla which were lying completely idle.
“Also, the Delhi Jal Board will roll out a comprehensive rainwater harvesting scheme, water-bodies revival policy and summer action plan to ensure that Delhi doesn’t suffer in any way for want of water,” he said.
