Government silent on DJB “mismanagement” amid water crisis, claims LoP

Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, the leader of the opposition in the Delhi Assembly, has questioned the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) government’s “silence” on important matters pertaining to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). Bidhuri emphasized the AAP’s inaction on the water situation, which has caused public anxiety, amid growing water shortages and conflicts.

The insufficient water supply at the start of summer is causing a rising protest in Delhi. There have been reports of fatal altercations over water, according to Bidhuri. “The Delhi government has neglected water supply augmentation over the last ten years,” he said. DJB, which was before profitable, is now facing an enormous debt of Rs 73,000 crore.

The BJP representative cited an open letter addressed to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, L-G VK Saxena, asking for clarification on the DJB’s mismanagement problems. “After 48 hours, the AAP leaders still don’t say anything and don’t address the L-G’s concerns,” he said. The LoP criticized the purported ineffectiveness of the government’s water conservation efforts. “The truth is different from the AAP’s promises to secure metered supply and reduce water waste. Water waste increased from 45% in 2015 to 58% in the present, the speaker said.

“Rs 250 crore was spent on flow meters, which are no longer in existence. This calls for a thorough probe into corruption,” Bidhuri said.

The water supply in Delhi has increased by only 4% over the last nine years, according to the 2023–24 Economic Survey, despite a 15% growth in population. According to Bidhuri, “more than 80% of Delhi’s citizens struggle with water scarcity, with many receiving contaminated water.” “Public dissatisfaction with the AAP’s performance is likely to be reflected in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections,” he said.