New Delhi : Amid the water crisis in the city, the Delhi Government has decided to deploy Additional District Magistrate and Sub Divisional Magistrate level officers in each zone, along with a team of Tehsildars and other officials who will act as a 'Quick Response Team' for the provision of water tankers and resolution of water-related complaints.
Delhi Water Minister Atishi wrote to the Chief Secretary directing him to ensure that these teams monitor and inspect the main water distribution network from water sources to the water treatment plants and from WTPs to primary Underground Reservoirs (UGRs).
These teams shall inspect the major pipelines to ensure that there is no leakage in any pipeline and if there is any leakage, it must be repaired within 12 hours. At this time of water shortage, not a single drop of water can be wasted.
Atishi also directed that a daily compiled report of all the inspections made in this regard by every Quick Response Team be submitted to the office of the undersigned by 5:00 PM every day.
"In the meeting held on 30.05.2024 regarding the issue of prevailing heat wave condition and rise in demand of water, it was decided that from 5th June onwards ADM/SDM level officers would be deployed in each Zone, along with a team of Tehsildars and other officials who will act as a 'Quick Response Team' for provision of water tankers and resolution of water-related complaints," Atishi said in her letter to the Chief Secretary.
Residents in several areas of Delhi still grapple with water shortages. With their piped water supply being disrupted, they are getting water through water tankers. Long queues can be seen in the areas for fetching water supplied by these tankers.
A war of words has erupted between Lieutenant-Governor VK Saxena and the AAP government regarding who is responsible for the water crisis. While the AAP government blames the water crisis on the BJP-rules Haryana government saying that it did not supply the due share of water to Delhi, the LG denies this claim.
After speaking with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Phone on Tuesday, Saxena issued a statement saying that he was told by the Chief Minister that the neighbouring State has been releasing water into the Yamuna River for Delhi through Munak canal as per the city's allocated share.
The LG blamed the Delhi government for the water crisis, saying the shortage has been caused by the tanker mafia that is "stealing water [from the canal] in connivance with the ruling AAP".