Candidates may face voters’ ire over water scarcity

| | NEW DELHI
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Candidates may face voters’ ire over water scarcity

Wednesday, 08 May 2019 | Sapna Singh | NEW DELHI

Water scarcity in Delhi may take centre stage for Lok Sabha candidates contesting from here, as Capital is reeling under a severe shortage of water this summer. Delhi voters are unhappy and candidates may face voters' ire. From high profile constituencies — New Delhi, South Delhi to West Delhi, voters across Delhi are facing the perennial acute shortage of water supply.

 The Delhi Government on Monday approached the Delhi High Court and requested it to withdraw the plea for the protection of water flow in Delhi. Blame game has begun as Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, blamed Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for corruption and misuse of DJB assets in election by ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Delhi Government has promised  Delhites hassle free water supply in slum and JJ cluster colonies, BJP candidate from New Delhi, Meenakshi Lekhi also promised to resolve water crisis in her area. "Being the area MP and member of council, I worked for water and sanitation issues, From MP LAD fund, I provide water supply in AIIMS staffer colony," said Lekhi.

Far away from the realties, these candidates are still unaware about the struggle of Delhiites for water.  Recently, Congress in Delhi also launched a protest — Jal Satyagrah to highlight water shortage.

Mentioning about water/tanker mafia, Congress leaders said that instead of putting an end to tanker mafia menace, the government has increased the number of tankers. Poor people are forced to buy water from these tankers. To ensure water supply for the whole day, in some part of Delhi, people have made underground water tanks to store water.

Priyanaka Sareen, a West Delhi resident said, "Duration of water supply by DJB has come down from what it was in a decade ago," "we have built underground tanks to store water and to ensure supply throughout the day," she added. 

Interestingly, Jal Board under Delhi government has prepared a Summer Action Plan -2091, targeting production of 936 Million Gallons per Day (MGD) of portable water, however, despite the production, Delhi has to relay on Haryana to meet water demand. 

Situation in South Delhi colonies are pathetic. People reside in Vasnat Kunj, Vasant Vihar, Chattarpur are also facing water crisis. "Every month we pay water bills, however, supply is very shortage," said Sameeksha , a South Delhi resident who runs an NGO.

Situation on ground is entirely different if one believes on the water bills of officers residing in New Delhi constituency.

Here, short duration of water supply is not issue but higher bills are worrying government officers.

"We do not mind short span of water supply but our water bills are very high. Initially, we thought there must be printing mistake but when we contact, we were shocked….we pay Rs 4000 to 5000 water bills," said a government officer. 

"Both MPs and ruling Government have to think collectively for a solution to water crisis problem in Delhi," the officer added.

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