After Indore tragedy, how Delhi plans to keep its water supply clean — and safe

Other directions include:

-Strengthening continuous monitoring of water quality at all water treatment plants, distribution zones, and consumer ends through frequent sampling and testing.

-Ensuring prompt response to public complaints on water quality, odour, taste, or discoloration, with on-ground verification and corrective action within the shortest possible time.

-DJB engineers and officials directed to conduct periodic audits of infrastructure to identify vulnerable sections and prioritise repairs/replacements to prevent any mixing of untreated water or external contaminants into the potable supply network.

-Dedicated teams to be deployed for round-the-clock vigilance and maintenance in high-density and vulnerable areas.

“These actions must be implemented with immediate effect and monitored rigorously by the CEO, DJB, including review of inspections carried out, complaints resolved, and water quality test results etc,” read the order.

‘Address complaints received so far in 2 days’

Following the minister’s directions, DJB CEO Kaushal Raj Sharma also issued an order to chief engineers, superintendent engineers, assistant engineers and officials concerned to address complaints related to water contamination received so far in two days.

He said if failure is found at any level, serious disciplinary action would be initiated against the official.

“Contamination in drinking water is a serious issue. Recently, a big incident has taken place in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, due to water contamination… In this regard, instructions have been issued by CEN(W) to all divisions… there must be zero tolerance for drinking water contamination… Such cases should be attended on priority…,” read the CEO’s January 5 order.

The DJB also asked officials to list complaints received since April last year that could not be resolved, along with works or projects that need to be planned to address them. “… these should be approved latest by January 10…,” read the order.

“Non-cleaning of trunk and peripheral sewer lines was a major source for sewer contamination in earlier months. A coordinated exercise has been taken up by the DJB across all divisions by deploying more than 30 super-sucker machines and 16 recycler machines, whose supervision is done by the local division… all concerned to supervise this activity efficiently…,” said the order undersigned by CEO Sharma.

Engineers have also been directed to report daily cleaning of sewer lines, along with photos and videos, to the Chief Engineer (Maintenance) office. “… any blockage in internal sewer lines should be removed promptly by auto desilter and other smaller machines…,” said an official.

Engineers have also been directed to conduct sampling of drinking water rigorously for all complaints received since last month to ensure the problems are not recurring.

Further, the treatment and quality control department has been directed to deploy extra staff to all divisions to take water samples on priority, provide prompt results and hire extra vehicles to collect samples, if required.

“… If there are any resource constraints, it should be discussed with the SE and CE concerned directly… instead of propagating constraints in public. Any dereliction in this regard will be viewed seriously…,” said the DJB CEO in the order.

Officials said the DJB also plans to set up a special cell to monitor complaints.