Solving Delhi's Water Problems

Aam Aadmi Party is standing for the Delhi elections in November, 2013.

In its election manifesto, it has assured that it will solve the water problems of its inhabitants.

Shiela Dixit, sarcastically asked them how they would go about it.

Arvind Kejriwal gives below his plans. Does Shila Dixit or the BJP have a plan. They do not have it for then they would have to attack the water mafia of whom they are a part.

My fellow countrymen,

Why 40% Delhiites do not get water in their homes? Why do they have to buy water at exorbitant prices from water tanker companies?

Deoli, Ambedkar Nagar, Mehraulli, Chirag Delhi, Sangam Vihar and many other parts of Delhi do not get water in their homes. Many parts of Delhi get highly contaminated water.

This is despite the fact that Delhi is a water surplus state. Delhi, with a population of 1.5 crores, produces 840 MGD (Million Gallons per Day) of water. It means that 210 lpcd (litres per capita per day) of water is available for every person in Delhi every day. Contrast this with the water availability in London and Germany, where only 150 lpcd of water is available. Despite that, there is 24 hour pure water supply in each home in London and Germany. Then why are 40% of Delhi’s homes without water? Where is Delhi’s water going?

According to Delhi government, 50% of Delhi’s water is lost in leakages. This means that almost 420 MGD of water comes on the roads of Delhi everyday. That is a huge quantity of water. If that were actually true, then there should have been floods in Delhi after a few days. But we don’t see any water on Delhi’s roads. Delhi government says that it is the underground pipelines which are leaking. But that is also not true. Because then the water table in Delhi should have risen. That is also not happening. Water table in Delhi is constantly going down.

Then where is Delhi’s water going? That is a huge mystery. We did our investigations and found that Delhi’s water is being stolen under political patronage on a large scale. Hundreds of water tanker companies are operating in Delhi. If you call up any of these companies, they will supply any number of tankers at around Rs 2000 per tanker. They do not face any water shortage. Where do these companies get their water from? Obviously, this water is stolen out of government’s water distribution system.

Half of these water tankers companies belong to BJP leaders and many belong to Congressmen. Water sales through these illegal tankers is more than Rs 1000 crore business in Delhi. Till we have BJP or Congress governments, we cannot expect water to reach our homes.

What would Aam Aadmi Party do?

Come down heavily against water mafia in Delhi. With a strong hand, stop illegal water supply in Delhi and ensure that this water actually reaches your house. If at all water tankers are needed in any area, they would be supplied only by Delhi Jal Board.

If you have any ideas, feel free to write to us at contact@aamaadmiparty.org.

With best regards,

Arvind Kejriwal