Say Govt. must focus on making the most of available resources
As Delhi gets ready to implement
public-private partnership models in the city to plug water and revenue leaks
and ensure round-the-clock supply, water conservation experts want the
Administration to look beyond dams and private companies and focus instead on
water harvesting, recycling and off-channel reservoirs.
“Delhi has a very high per capita
water supply, what it lacks is management,” pointed out Himanshu Thakkar of the
South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers & People, a network of individuals and
organisations working on water-related issues.
Blaming the Delhi Jal Board, the
utility that supplies water to the city, for failing to “democratise” its
functioning, Mr. Thakkar said: “PPP projects have failed globally; it is
shocking to see the Planning Commission push for a model which has not been
successful anywhere.”
“No attempts have been made to address
Delhi’s water problems -- poor quality, inequitable distribution, revenue and
distribution losses. The Government instead is bringing in private companies
that will only accentuate the existing problems,” he added.
Manoj Misra of non-government
organisation Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan has drawn up an exhaustive list of suggestions
that can alleviate the city’s water woes. “We have to consider revision of the
Master Plan together with other water conservation ideas to ensure water
security for the city. For instance, Zone P II is part of the original flood
plain of the Yamuna in Delhi. Situated on the northern portions of Delhi, it is
higher than the rest of the city, which makes it ideal for consideration as a
suitable location for off-channel reservoirs to store river water during the
monsoon months. Being a part of the floodplain of the river it is unsuitable
for permanent and planned human settlements. Zones O (Yamuna floodplains) and P
II should be taken together and preserved as a water sanctuary,” he said.
Mr. Misra also suggests “strict
protection” of the Delhi Ridge and the Yamuna floodplains in the city and
restoration of “lost rivers, Sahibi and Barapula” and other water bodies in the
city. “There are 22 storm water drains in the city and these must be restored
from their current status of sewage drains. Rainwater harvesting, the way it is
done in Chennai, should be made mandatory and a part of the city culture for
not just new buildings but all the existing buildings within a strict
time-frame. Storm water drains that are part of the rainwater harvesting and
natural drainage system in the city must not be ‘covered and converted’ under
any circumstances,” he said.
Experts also stress on water recycling
and re-use. “What is being done in the name of harvesting is lip service. There
is no restraint on pollution despite the Water (Prevention & Control of
Pollution) Act, 1974, enforced. No one is worried why the city’s 17 sewage
treatment plants do not function to their full capacity. The whole focus seems
to be on bringing in private players,” complained Mr. Thakkar.
Use of “grey water” can reduce the
city’s dependence on raw water. “Imagine with almost 600 MGD of recycled grey
water (of a total of around 850 MGD of available water) available for
non-potable needs, would this city ever be short of adequate water?” questioned
Mr. Misra.
On the issue of building new dams for
ensuring more water for the city, Mr. Misra said the Government should consider
exploring the option of raising off-channel reservoirs in Zone P II. “There are
many cities (London in UK the most obvious example) in the world that today
resorts to storing ‘storm time’ water from their rivers in such reservoirs. But
before this option is considered it would be of utmost necessity to frame
suitable payment (in perpetuity) arrangement for the affected people and
farmers in form of payment for ecological/economic services (PES) that the city
must be ready to pay to the adversely affected persons.
The advantage of this scheme will be
that since Zone P II is at a higher elevation than the rest of the city,
pumping costs from the reservoir will be minimal (gravity having taken care of
most), if any,” he said.
Questioning the Government’s proposal
to bring in private companies to improve the city’s water management, Mr. Misra
said: “Delhi remains one of the better supplied cities in the world in terms of
its water needs. At 50 gallons (220 litres) average supplies per person per day
as the DJB itself claims, there is no reason for the city to ask for more.
But what is actually required is
better management of the available water in the city.
And before anyone mistakes this for
privatisation of water supplies in the city, we believe that water as an
essential life sustaining entity should never be allowed to become a planned
part of the market system. It is part of the State’s fundamental duties to
provide wholesome and adequate water to its citizens and non-humans alike and
this duty cannot and should not be outsourced.”
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