Several parts of Delhi continued to face a water shortage on Friday despite Haryana assisting the capital to overcome the shortage. The Wazirabad and Chandrawal water treatment plants (WTPs) have failed to supply sufficient water as the water level remained relatively low.
The worst-hit areas are parts of North Delhi, Central Delhi, and Northwest Delhi. The Nayab Saini-led Haryana government has been providing 50 cusecs of water to overcome the shortage. Despite these efforts, the condition still prevails, creating problems for the residents.
The Summer Action Plan set a target of 1002 million gallons per day (MGD) of drinking water. In comparison, approximately 900 MGD of water is currently available. This is primarily due to the Wazirabad and Chandrawal WTPs receiving approximately 25 percent less water than their capacity. The combined capacity of these two plants is over 230 MGD.
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What Did DJB Say?
Delhi Jal Board officials say that approximately 927 cusecs of water are being supplied from Haryana through the Munak Canal. Efforts are being made to manage the shortage by bringing canal water from Haiderpur in Delhi to these two plants. However, the water level of the Wazirabad reservoir needs to rise for solving the problem. Its normal level should be 674.5 feet. Compared to this, it is less than 669 feet. To raise its level, more water will have to be released into the Yamuna.
Around 352 cusecs of water is being released into the river from Hathni Kund. BS Rawat, coordinator of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), advised that the water shortage issue would be solved if the flow of the Yamuna were increased. 352 cusecs of water is not sufficient. The water is majorly lost due to evaporation, which keeps the river dry.
What Did The Residents Say?
People across north, south, west, and east Delhi complained about the lack of communication from authorities has led to this water crisis. Residents from Model Town and adjoining Mohan Park claimed the water supply has been disrupted for nearly four days. “There is no information from DJB. We don’t know whether the water supply will be restored in the morning, in the evening, or never. People are staying awake late into the night waiting for supplies," HT quoted a Mohan Park resident as saying.
People in West Delhi's Sudarshan Park claimed that several parts of the locality have either received contaminated water or no supply for the past five to six days.
Several social media posts surfaced where residents from Rohini, Shahdara, Bhola Nath Nagar, Model Town, and West Delhi said that there have been prolonged disruptions in water supply and helplines provided poor responses.