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Last updated: May 09, 2023, 06:20 AM IST
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal (left), Delhi LG VK Saxena (right). (PTI image file)
Delhi gets about 40 percent of its raw water from the Yamuna River through Haryana and the rest from the Ganges River from Uttar Pradesh and Bhakra-Nangal from Punjab.
Lieutenant Governor V.I. K. Saxena on Monday charged Delhi Galle Board (DJB) for not addressing the “sanitary and miserable conditions” he had referred to at the Wazirabad water treatment plant nearly two months ago.
In response, the Delhi government alleged that LG was trying to divert attention from illegal sand mining in Haryana and dumping industrial waste into the Yamuna River in the neighboring state.
Delhi gets about 40 percent of its raw water from the Yamuna River through Haryana and the rest from the Ganges River from Uttar Pradesh and Bhakra-Nangal from Punjab.
The Wazirabad Valley on the Yamuna River in North Delhi is the primary holding area where raw water is lifted for the Wazirabad and Chandrawal treatment plants.
According to a memorandum issued by the LG office, DJB filed a report with the chief secretary on April 6 without addressing the issue of water quality being supplied from Wazirabad and Chandrawal water treatment plants.
It said the utility did not submit a plan to remove water from the pond area that provides raw water for these treatment plants, nor did it detail any action it intended to take against those responsible at fault.
“The deficiencies and directives mentioned in my note are not addressed in true letter and spirit. Despite my clear directive to accelerate the siltation/clean-up of the Baraka area in the Wazirabad Valley, the timelines drawn not only reflect a lack of urgency, nor do they establish accountability on those involved.” LG was quoted in the note as saying.
In a new note to the general secretary, LG said, “It has been reiterated once again that the provision of potable drinking water of adequate standard to the citizens of Delhi is the first responsibility of the DGB Board, which should never be waived. Any default in this regard shall be identified at Immediately and start taking exemplary action against the officers/officials at fault.”
“However, from the conclusions, suggestions and actions proposed in the present report, it is clear that my concerns did not receive the expected response. The reasoning put forward regarding the gross lapses noted during my inspection is unacceptable,” he said.
The governor, Saxena, said “major” criminal proceedings needed to be initiated against all the officers named in the report filed by the DGB.
He said the role of other officers should be re-examined for any negligence on their part and action should be taken, and asked the DJB to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within 15 days.
Water Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said LG should explain why it was not taking action against the Chief Secretary for Finance, who had been “sitting on DJB funds for months”.
“LG is trying to divert attention from illegal sand mining and dumping of Haryana’s industrial waste into Yamuna. It is resorting to low-level policies on such a sensitive issue as drinking water supply,” claimed Bharadwaj.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is republished from a syndicated news agency feed.)
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