Amidst the scorching summer blaze, the governance of Delhi has decreed a penalty of Rs 2,000 for activities that squander water reserves, such as rinsing automobiles with a conduit and appropriating domestic water for infrastructural and commercial endeavors. This proclamation was made known on Wednesday, as the metropolis grapples with an acute dearth of water, exacerbated by the unprecedented surge in temperatures, eclipsing the 50 degrees Celsius threshold in certain locales.
The Water Minister, Atishi, has enjoined the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to dispatch 200 task forces across the urban expanse to thwart wasteful water practices, encompassing vehicular cleansing via hosepipes, brimming water receptacles, and the misappropriation of household water for building and business enterprises. In a missive directed to the DJB’s chief executive officer, Atishi articulated, “Commencing from 8 am on Thursday, these teams shall be mobilized to levy fines upon individuals found culpable of water wastage. Moreover, they are authorized to dismantle any illicit water connections at construction sites or commercial premises.”
Atishi underscored the prevalence of an intense heatwave besieging the national capital, coupled with the conundrum of inadequate water supply ensuing from Haryana’s withholding of Delhi’s rightful apportionment. “Given the prevailing exigencies, the preservation of water assumes paramount significance. Alas, there is an alarming profligacy of water evident in various sectors of Delhi,” she remarked.
Furthermore, Atishi decried the existence of illicit water connections at construction sites and commercial hubs, advocating a stringent crackdown on such profligate water utilization. Through a communiqué on X, she divulged plans for an impending crackdown on water wastage, vowing to sever unauthorized domestic connections at building sites and commercial establishments.
On Tuesday, Atishi censured Haryana for withholding Delhi’s water allocation since the onset of May, annunciating the Delhi administration’s intent to implement an array of measures, including the rationalization of water distribution in the capital. She intimated that recourse to the Supreme Court may be sought if the inflow of Yamuna water into the city remains unsatisfactory in the ensuing days.
“By May 1, the water gauge at Wazirabad had descended to 674.5 feet, signifying the customary threshold. During the corresponding period last year, the minimum level was sustained at 674.5 feet throughout April, May, and June,” Atishi expounded on Tuesday. Presenting statistical data, the minister disclosed that as of May 8, the water gauge at Wazirabad had plummeted to 672 feet, further receding to 671 feet by May 20. Subsequently, on Tuesday, it regressed further to 669.8 feet, she divulged.
