Rooftop tanks overflowing,25 fined by DJB in Vasant Kunj

“Starting with Vasant Kunj,the drive would be launched in areas that get proper water supply. At least 25 people were issued challans in the recent drive in Vasant Kunj for letting their tanks overflow,” DJB Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Negi told Newsline.

“Challans have been issued to the defaulters and filed in the court of the special magistrate,” DJB director (revenue) S B Shashank said.

The defaulters would now be summoned by the court in the next 15 to 20 days to appear before the DJB-appointed special magistrates. Launched on January 2 this year,the special courts have prosecuted 1,317 defaulters till March 31. They have earned Rs 16 lakh revenue through challans on illegal connections.

“Of 1,317 defaulters,challans have been collected for only 900 till date. The rest are yet to appear before the court,” a senior DJB official said.

To check the problem of overflowing tanks,the DJB will conduct more such drives in areas like Vasant Vihar,Rohini,Pitampura,Sarita Vihar and Mayur Vihar,among several others. These areas,according to officials,waste the maximum quantity of water as they also get a very comfortable supply.

As a corresponding preventive measure,the DJB has partnered with an NGO,FORCE,to launch a pilot project in Vasant Kunj,before moving to other water guzzling parts of the city.

The NGO would appoint local teams of ‘Jal Rakshaks’ for each of the 30 residential blocks. The teams would monitor overflowing tanks,promote water conservation and rainwater harvesting,spread awareness through street plays put up by resident children,train plumbers on water sensors and overflow alarms,and also tie up with suppliers for these gadgets.

Jyoti Sharma,president of FORCE,said,“On the demand side,these teams will monitor water wastage and on the supply side,we propose to develop rainwater harvesting systems in every residential pocket.”