New Delhi, July 3
As part of the Delhi government's effort to privatise water supply in the city, it has decided to begin with south Delhi by enrolling private players for water distribution in areas like Malviya Nagar, Mehrauli, Nangaloi, Vasant Vihar, Vasant Enclave, Anand Niketan and Western Colony.
Though it was decided in the board meeting of Delhi Jal Board (DJB), chaired by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, in November to involve private sector in water distribution, no action was taken in this regard. The board meeting had decided to privatise management and maintenance of the DJB's infrastructure in the south Delhi areas.
According to source in the department, the DJB had to invite tenders for the same by June end. The move is expected to increase in rates and add to the woes of Delhiites who are already burdened with a steep hike in power tariffs.
"Privatisation is necessary in the water distribution sector. We want to replicate the same model for the water distribution that we adopted in the power sector," said Dikshit when asked whether her government has decided to privatise the water sector.
Criticising Dikshit's comments, senior BJP leader VK Malhotra warned the government against privatising the water sector, alleging it is being initiated to benefit the vested interests. "There seems to be a method in madness in this move because it is blatantly meant to help the water mafia and their supporters. They will not only hike the charges, but will also systematically grab the land worth hundreds of crores of rupees belonging to the DJB," said Malhotra.
Dikshit had been pushing for initiating "reforms" in water sector, arguing that private entities must be involved to improve water distribution and that people must be made to "pay for every drop" of water they use so that they know the value of the scarce resource.
