Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that if the Centre provides 1,300 million gallons per day (MGD) water to Delhi from neighbouring states, the AAP government will deliver water to every house in the national capital for 24 hours.
Kejriwal inaugurated a 110 lakh litre underground water reservoir (UGR) and Booster Pumping Station in Patparganj. This UGR will supply water to eight colonies including Pandav Nagar, Mayur Kunj, Pratap Vihar, Patparganj village and Chilla village as well as 31 societies of Mayur Vihar Phase-I.
“We will try to get more water from neighbouring states but also recharge ground water to increase water at our own level; we won’t sit with folded hands,” he said and appealed to the Central Government that Delhi should get more water from Yamuna and Ganga.
The Chief Minister said Delhi is the national capital, it belongs to the whole country.
“We are not asking for 2000-2500 MGD water. We are asking for 1300 MGD water, and we will manage it. And trust me, if we get this 1300 MGD supply, the Delhi Government will supply water 24×7 to every household,” he said.
“No matter how much water we stock, we need a basic dignified amount as per our need. If the Centre intervenes, the states around us will have to release water,” the Chief Minister said.
“The population of Delhi is increasing rapidly. I will not say that the previous government did nothing, but the work was not done according to the speed with which the population increased. According to the way the population has increased in Delhi, preparations are being made to provide water. After the formation of our government, the 12th UGR is being prepared,” said the CM on the occasion.
While addressing the occasion, he further said that in the last seven years, the availability of water in Delhi has been increased from 861 MGD to 990 MGD through water treatment plants, tube wells and rainy wells. Twelve reservoirs
and three treatment plants were constructed by the Delhi government in the last seven years, he said.
“Delhi received 800-850 MGD water when its population was around 80 lakh. It is still getting the same water though the population has now tripled to 2.5 crore,” the Chief Minister said.
“We are fixing the irregularities in metre reading and water bills in DJB and are soon going to come up with a plan,” he said.