No service disruption expected: Delhi Jal Board after Atishi warns of impending water crisis
The DJB, in turn, said in its statement on Thursday that it has taken up the release of the second installment of funds with the Finance Department, adding funds are likely to be released “after submission of requisite information and data by DJB to the Finance Department.”
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Water Minister Atishi The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) does not anticipate any disruption in the services it provides, it said in a statement Thursday, a few days after Water Minister Atishi warned of an impending water shortage in the city with the finance department allegedly not releasing funds to the DJB.
“… it is clarified that DJB does not expect or anticipate any such disruption in its services and DJB is fully geared up to meet its responsibilities towards the citizens of Delhi in so far as the regular supply of water and sewerage services are concerned,” the DJB’s Deputy Director (PR) said in a statement on Thursday.
In what is being seen as another tussle between Delhi’s AAP government and its bureaucracy, Atishi had written to L-G V K Saxena asking for his intervention and alleging that Finance Secretary Ashish C Verma “plans to prevent the release of the second instalment of the grant-in-aid and loan to DJB,” and that “Verma’s obstructionist tactics have led to a severe resource crunch in the DJB.”
The DJB, in turn, said in its statement on Thursday that it has taken up the release of the second installment of funds with the Finance Department, adding funds are likely to be released “after submission of requisite information and data by DJB to the Finance Department.”
In May 2023, the DJB had received Rs 1,952 crore from the Finance Department as first installment “on account basis, subject to actual implementation of projects, the progress of works on ground and submission of utilisation certificates thereof,” the DJB note said.
“The water supply and sewerage services of the DJB will continue without any disruption and the DJB is in a position to cater to any sudden and urgent nature of work also in order to ensure uninterrupted supply of water and sewerage services,” it added.
In a separate statement, the Delhi government has said: “Official documents show that DJB has been chasing the Finance Department for the release of 2nd installment of funds since August, that is, over three months but to no avail. Neither has Finance Department confirmed by when the funds will be cleared. This has led to a huge pendency in clearance of bills worth over Rs 800 crore. Meanwhile, the DJB contractors association has already communicated on November 17 that all ongoing works are being stopped with immediate effect till payments are cleared.”
Atishi had said on Tuesday: “Due to Verma’s callous and obstructive attitude, we are looking at a potential breakdown of the water system with overflow of sewage lines, stoppage of treatment of wastewater before its release into the environment, and dangerous disruption of clean water supply for human consumption… This is a man-made crisis waiting to happen… and will lead to an unprecedented public health crisis.”
Verma had said that geotagging information was awaited and funds would be released when it is received.
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