Delhi Jal Board plans to recover many times higher water bills by installing new meters in 2.5 lakh houses

Delhi Jal Board is going to install 2.5 lakh new water meters in 14 residential colonies and commercial establishments with the help of private companies for recovering many times higher bill.  By doing so the DJB is trying to take one more step in the direction of privatisation of water supply in the capital.  For this purpose DJB has framed a new project of 47 crores on the advise of Chief Minister.  Due to the installation of new fast running meters the water tariff will increase by 3 to 10 times.  BJP has alleged heavy corruption by the Delhi Government in this project.

            BJP Delhi Pradesh President Shri Vijender Gupta has said that the Chief Minister is bent upon privatising water supply in Delhi like the power.  In order to prevent protest from the people she has planned to divide the privatisation of water in many phases.  In the first phase the work of water treatment and water distribution has been assigned to private companies in the areas like Malviya Nagar, Vasant Vihar, Nangloi etc.  Now the work on the second project is being done in a secret way by the Government.

            Under this plan 2.5 lakh consumers of the 14 posh colonies like Malviya Nagar, Vasant Kunj, Greater Kailash, Friends Colony, Civil Lines, Paschim Vihar, Safdarjung, Ashok Vihar, Rajouri Garden etc. have been targeted.  Government and the DJB have also found an excuse for it.  DJB has to say that the consumption of water in the aforesaid areas is maximum in Delhi.  But revenue is minimum.  Defective meters are not working or they have been deliberately made defective.  This is the reason why the people of these colonies use water maximum and do not pay appropriate bill.

            According to the Government and DJB, a big scheme to increase the revenue of about 47 crores has been prepared.  Entire work has been assigned to Larsen and Tubro Company.  The employees of these companies will recover Rs. 400 for changing each meter from the consumers.  In the first phase meters in 1.2 lakh residential houses and 1.3 lakh commercial establishments will be changed.

            Shri Gupta has said that DJB has completely failed to supply water to the people of Delhi.  The water supplied by the DJB is also contaminated. Due to this thousands of people are hospitalised every year.  DJB supplies water only to 60% areas of Delhi.  40% areas have to make arrangements from private sources or from the markets. 

            Out of the water supplied by DJB 40% water is sold in the black market with the connivance of DJB.  Now the Government wants to get out of the work of water supply.  Due to this the private companies are being given this work gradually.  He told that if the water supply is privatised then it will become difficult for the people to get drinking water.