New Delhi: In response to the ongoing water crisis exacerbated by a severe heatwave, Delhi Water Minister Atishi has formally requested the deployment of police personnel to patrol and protect major water pipelines for the next 15 days. This request was made in a letter addressed to Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora on Sunday.
In her letter, Minister Atishi highlighted the critical situation facing the national capital. “Delhi is reeling under a severe heatwave and a water crisis. Due to a shortage of water being received in the Yamuna, water production has fallen by around 70 MGD, causing many parts of Delhi to experience water shortages. In this situation, every drop of water becomes precious,” she stated.
The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has deployed patrol teams to monitor the main water distribution network. These teams are responsible for overseeing the raw water supply to Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) and subsequently to the main underground reservoirs across different city parts. Atishi mentioned that additional teams supervised by Assistant District Magistrates (ADMs) are also supporting this effort.
On Saturday, the DJB’s ground patrol team discovered a significant leak in the south Delhi Rising Mains, a crucial pipeline carrying water from Sonia Vihar WTP to south Delhi. The leak, located near the DTL substation in Garhi Medhu, was found to be caused by foul play. Several large bolts, including a 12-inch bolt, had been deliberately cut from the pipeline, leading to the leakage.
Given the severity of the situation, Atishi has requested the police commissioner to deploy patrols to protect the city’s major pipelines from potential sabotage. “At this juncture, any foul play and sabotage will worsen the already difficult water shortage being faced by the people of Delhi,” she wrote.
The sabotage incident required a maintenance team to work for six continuous hours to repair the leak. This repair work necessitated the cessation of water pumping for the duration, resulting in a loss of 20 MGD of water. Consequently, south Delhi is expected to experience a further 25% reduction in water supply.
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