Days after imposing a Rs 2,000 fine for water wastage, the Delhi government announced penalties for 1,323 violators and disconnection of 179 illegal connections.
Facing criticism from political opponents and the Supreme Court, the government claimed a 25% reduction in water losses from the Munak Canal, which supplies water from Haryana. Additionally, they replaced 3,500 km of pipeline and laid 7,300 km of new lines to reduce leakage.
Delhi reportedly loses about 50% of its water to theft and leaks. Water Minister Atishi blamed the reduced supply from Haryana for the city’s water issues, while emphasizing the crackdown on illegal tanker operations, which use only about 4-5 MGD of water.
Meanwhile, Atishi met with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at Tihar Jail on Thursday. “The CM said that he came to know…that there is a water problem in Delhi and people are troubled. He has instructed that whatever steps are required to be taken to overcome the water shortage in Delhi should be taken as soon as possible… He has given instructions to all the MLAs to go to the ground, stay among the people, and work to solve the water problem of the people,” she said.