New Delhi

Jal Board asked to ease process of giving connections

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday instructed the Delhi Jal Board to do away with the existing process of release of water connections as it is lengthy, cumbersome and involves approval from several authorities. Instead, Ms. Dikshit, who is also the chairperson of the Jal Board, suggested it come out with a simplified and consumer-friendly procedure.

Speaking at a presentation by a company for bringing about improvement in the Jal Board through information technology, Ms. Dikshit also directed that water connections be granted on demand pending verification of particulars as drinking water was a basic need for all. It was also mentioned that the seven-page application form would be replaced by a single page.

At the presentation it was stated that the Jal Board had been catering to the needs of 28 lakh households in Delhi and provides drinking water in bulk to the New Delhi Municipal Council, the Delhi Cantonment Board and the Delhi Development Authority for Dwarka sub-city. It also supplies water to consumers in domestic, shops or establishments and industrial categories.

It was mentioned that the Jal Board had enhanced its water production from 570 million gallons a day (MGD) to 820 MGD. Also, while the Jal Board had 66 per cent metered consumers, a large number of consumers were being issued bills on average basis because their meters were defective. Further, around 15 per cent connections were running without meters.

On the initiatives to be taken by the Jal Board, it was stated that it would strive to issue bills based on meter reading to all consumers who are having metered connections. It might also introduce a selective spot billing system and start daily reconciliation of its collections. It has also been suggested that an IT-enabled bill payment system be developed.

Various other suggestions were also made at the presentation. It was stated that to minimise losses due to leakages, system failures and revenue losses due to un-billed water, bulk meters be installed at water treatment plants, underground reservoirs and colony main heads.

Another presentation was made relating to trenchless rehabilitation of old water pipelines which may prove to be useful in the Walled City of Delhi and other congested colonies where digging is difficult. Moreover, it was pointed out that rehabilitation through digging results in traffic disruption and other problems. The new trenchless technology involves little digging and thereafter cleaning and restoration with the help of sophisticated equipment.

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