Delhi Cabinet Minister Parvesh Verma on Thursday inspected the Wazirabad Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and said that he has given directions to carry out desilting work that will double up the storage capacity.

Verma said that the desilting process would be completed within one to one-and-a-half months, after which the plant would be able to store water at double its current capacity.

During the inspection, Verma said that he drank the treated water, checked its quality and assured that the water was completely safe and drinkable.

“The Wazirabad Water Treatment Plant has a storage capacity of 220 MGD but due to silt accumulation along a one-kilometre stretch, it is currently holding only around 100 MGD,” he said.

He also said that while Delhi receives adequate water supply from neighbouring states, improvements are needed in storage infrastructure and leakage prevention. He also announced that the Delhi government is preparing a master plan for water management for the next 50 years so that no situation like a water crisis arises. Additionally, efforts are being made to regulate ammonia levels in the Yamuna River, he said.

The Water Minister said that the TDS level of water coming from Wazirabad Barrage was found to be 170, which is completely safe according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Indian standards. All water purification plants (WTP) and sewage treatment plants (STP) are being strictly monitored and the government is developing an IT dashboard so that real-time monitoring of water intake and discharge of every WTP and STP can be done, he added.

Verma further said that there are 30 Sewage Treatment Plants under the DJB that require regular monitoring. He said that strict steps are also being taken to stop increasing pollution and illegal encroachment in Yamuna and the DJB has requested the Territorial Army of the Indian Army to ensure that there is no encroachment in the Yamuna.

The minister added that he would personally inspect all water and sewage treatment plants in the city, one by one.

He also questioned the policies of the Kejriwal government and said, “I did not go to anyone’s house and show off by keeping a 20-litre Bisleri bottle. I went to the WTP and drank the same water that is being supplied to every house. We are committed to providing clean water to the people of Delhi in a transparent manner.”