Delhi L-G flags ‘unhygienic’ conditions at Wazirabad WTP; AAP hits back

Saxena says frequent water shortages in the city are due to the Wazirabad and Chandrawal water treatment plants not being completely operational; newly inducted Water Minister and DJB chairperson Saurabh Bharadwaj calls it an attempt to distract from the issue of illegal sand mining in Haryana

Lieutenant-Governor V.K. Saxena, in a letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, highlighted the unhygienic and unsanitary conditions at the Wazirabad Water Treatment Plant (WTP), Raj Niwas officials said on Saturday.

According to the officials, Mr. Saxena also pointed out the “gross inaction” on the part of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) in desilting the pond reservoir behind the Wazirabad barrage.

Mr. Saxena’s statements drew a sharp reaction from newly inducted Water Minister and DJB chairperson Saurabh Bharadwaj, who called it an attempt to “distract” from the issue of “illegal sand mining” in BJP-ruled Haryana.

On Tuesday, the DJB had said the city was getting less water from Yamuna due to illegal sand mining in Haryana which, in turn, was affecting the supply of treated water.

According to the DJB, low water level in Yamuna has decreased the production in Wazirabad and Chandrawal water treatment plants affecting supply in many areas of Delhi before summer.

Noting that the WTP supplies drinking water to large parts of the national Capital, Mr. Saxena, in his letter, said the pond had a capacity to hold 250 million gallons of water. However, the capacity has reduced to 16 million gallons as no desiltation work has been carried out, the L-G added.