New Delhi: After reforming the power sector,
Delhi is all set to witness reform in water distribution
system with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday giving a
strong indication of a similar exercise, saying people wasting
the precious commodity will have to pay for it soon.
Dikshit, addressing a gathering of industry captains
organised by FICCI, said her government's next challenge was
to bring in efficiency in the water distribution system on the
lines of successful power sector reform.
"We can only give enough water to everybody provided
you do not waste it. We have to pay for our water services. If
people can pay for power then they will have to pay for water
as well", Dikshit said.
Highlighting the efficiency in the power sector,
Dikshit said government was determined to bring similar
initiatives in the water distribution sector and to make
people educate about conserving the precious commodity.
"We have significantly improved the performance of
power sector. Our next challenge is to make water distribution
equally efficient. We have to be conscious of the fact that we
have to conserve water like we conserve power", Dikshit said.
Last year, the government had initiated reform in water
billing and installation of meter and had involved IT major
Tata Consultancy Services in these two key areas.
The government had introduced electronic system of
billing to plug the loopholes and help Delhi Jal Board in
enhancing its revenue.
Officials said in the next stage, the government may
hand over maintenance of the water distribution network to
private entities from the Delhi Jal Board.
The average demand of potable water in the city is
around 1,100 mgd (million gallon per day) and currently DJB
supplies around 800 mgd water.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 01, 2011, 19:40