Latest news with #DJB
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
DJB to NGT: water contamination in janakpuri due to dead line interconnection
New Delhi: In response to the National Green Tribunal criticising Delhi Jal Board for failing to act after the Central Pollution Control Board flagged sewage presence in water supply in A Block in Janakpuri, the water utility informed the tribunal that it had discovered a dead water line connected to the active distribution line and had taken several short-term remediation steps to resolve the problem. In a reply to NGT dated July 25, DJB said it collected 59 samples between March and July 15 from A Block, Janakpuri, where residents had complained that the drinking water supply was contaminated with sewage. Earlier, CPCB reported finding six of 20 water samples lifted from the area contaminated with E. coli and faecal coliform, indicating sewage presence in the water. DJB told NGT, "Sampling of water was carried out regularly by DJB's testing and quality control division in coordination with RWA members to test the quality of water in the affected areas. A total of 59 samples were collected from March 2025 to July 15, 2025. Of these, only three samples — from A1/32 (dated March 9), A1/57 GF (dated April 25) and A1/141 SF (dated June 20) — were found to be unsatisfactory. However, after taking remedial measures, fresh samples were collected from the said premises, all of which were thereafter found satisfactory. " You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi It added that during an inspection on July 18, it found an abandoned and unplugged house connection in A Block that was suspected to be a potential contamination source. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Senior Living Homes in Adis Abeba May Surprise You Senior Living | Search Ads Undo It was disconnected and sealed. "Further, to effectively manage and isolate the water supply network, three sluice valves were installed in July," DJB said. "This led to the identification of two major contamination sources: (i) A cracked gate valve near Gate No. 4 of A1 Block, which was temporarily repaired on July 20 and finally replaced on July 23. 2. (ii) A cracked underground water pipe near A1/36, which was identified on July 21 and replaced at night on July 22. Our efforts continue to find hidden underground contamination sources to plug or repair." As an interim arrangement, DJB deployed water tankers in the area to provide potable water, but the residents "haven't availed of the same". As a long-term measure, the board has "conceptualised" the replacement of water and sewer lines older than 40 years in the affected area. The tenders for the work have been floated, DJB claimed. Taking note of the CPCB reports on the contaminated water, NGT had upbraided the water board for failing to act and provide clean water to residents for nearly three months. On May 30, NGT had further ordered DJB to provide clean drinking water to the affected area through alternate sources until the problem was resolved.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Steps being taken to fix Janakpuri water supply purity: Delhi Jal Board to NGT
More than two months after residents of Janakpuri's A Block flagged the alarming presence of sewage in their drinking water, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has detailed a series of short-term and long-term measures being taken to fix the issue, according to an affidavit submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday. Steps being taken to fix Janakpuri water supply purity: Delhi Jal Board to NGT This comes days after the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) submitted fresh test results showing that five out of six water samples lifted from the area on June 30 tested positive for total coliform and E Coli. The findings, which were submitted to NGT on July 15, were the second such warning in two months. In May, CPCB had reported E Coli and faecal coliform in six of 20 samples lifted from the same neighbourhood. The data reinforced complaints made by residents in a plea to the tribunal, prompting NGT to direct DJB to provide alternative sources of clean water and initiate immediate remedial action. According to the CPCB report, E Coli levels in the water ranged from 7.8 units per 100ml to 280,000 units per 100ml, which was far above the zero-tolerance standard laid out by the Bureau of Indian Standards. In its response, DJB said that 59 water samples were tested between March and mid-July. Of these, three were found unsatisfactory. The agency said it traced contamination to damaged house connections—specifically at addresses such as A1/141, A1/57, and A1/65—which have since been repaired. 'However, after taking remedial measures, fresh samples were collected from the premises, all of which were thereafter found satisfactory,' DJB added in the affidavit. A dead water line at A1/61 was also found connected to the main distribution line. It was removed in June. To isolate leaks, three sluice valves were installed this month, leading to the identification of two major sources of contamination: a cracked gate valve near Gate No. 4, replaced on July 23, and a broken underground pipe near A1/36, replaced overnight on July 22. Water tankers, the affidavit added, had been deployed in the colony, though many residents reportedly did not make use of them. The long-term fix, DJB said, involves replacing the ageing water and sewer lines in the block—some of which are over four decades old. The agency said the project had been delayed due to funding issues but has now been sanctioned. A Letter of Intent was issued on July 18 and tenders have been floated, with work expected to begin after the monsoon and completed within six months. NGT had earlier criticised DJB's lack of urgency, pointing out that complaints had been raised nearly three months before the May 30 order that directed the agency to ensure uninterrupted supply of potable water.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Amnesty scheme to roll out after DJB revamp
New Delhi: Delhi govt has initiated a series of structural reforms for Delhi Jal Board to improve manpower and water management in the city. Senior officials are taking steps to strengthen staffing, monitoring mechanisms and overall operational efficiency of DJB. The water utility department is also in the process of a software upgrade, shifting the existing Oracle-based system to a cloud-based platform. Officials said a one-time amnesty scheme only for domestic consumers would be rolled out once the upgrade was over. Delhi govt has given an in-principle approval to waive the late payment surcharge on inflated water bills. "Once the new system is operational, the full waiver rollout will begin. The move is expected to benefit lakhs of households struggling with overdue charges, offering long-awaited financial relief on water billing," the official said. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi DJB serves around 27 lakh registered consumers. Several residents have raised concerns about inaccurate billing. According to an estimate, nearly 16 lakh consumers received inflated bills in the past few years. Many stopped paying the bills, reducing the water utility's revenues. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like San Clemente Del Tuyu: Unsold Sofas Prices May Surprise You (Prices May Surprise You) Sofas | Search Ads Search Now Undo In Oct-Nov 2022, over 10,000 complaints were received about faulty water bills on the DJB portal. The previous AAP govt promised to bring a one-time settlement scheme last year but could not execute it. A senior official said the scheme would be a one-time amnesty. Past arrears and late payment surcharges are the main reasons behind the high bills, said an official. To fill long-standing vacancies, the recruitment process for junior engineers through GATE has started. The selection process for various other posts is also underway. The appointments via Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board are expected to conclude by Aug 2026. To strengthen contract monitoring and project execution, a proposal request has been prepared for selecting a project management unit, which will oversee contract timelines, payments and performance. The award process is expected between July and Oct 2025. Standard operating procedures and a revised schedule of rates are being introduced to streamline operation and maintenance activities. Third-party audits will ensure accountability and quality in service delivery, an official said.
Economic Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Delhi Jal Board struggles to recover ₹63,000 crore in unpaid dues
The Delhi Jal Board faces a severe financial crisis with ₹63,000 crore in unpaid dues, primarily from government departments and agencies like Indian Railways and Delhi Police. This impacts DJB's operations and infrastructure development. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) is grappling with an unprecedented financial burden, with unpaid dues amounting to ₹63,000 crore, a majority of which are owed by government departments, The Times of India per DJB records reviewed by ToI, Delhi government departments owe ₹33,295 crore, while central government agencies account for ₹29,723.37 crore in outstanding dues. Among the latter, Indian Railways alone owes ₹21,530 crore, followed by Delhi Police with ₹6,097 crore. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi also has pending payments of ₹26,147 crore.A senior DJB official told ToI that despite multiple reminders to the defaulters, the board has been unable to recover the dues, severely impacting its day-to-day operations, maintenance, and infrastructure expansion. Officials acknowledged that the matter now demands urgent to the burden, commercial users owe ₹66,000 crore, while domestic consumers have pending dues of ₹15,000 crore, according to the data cited by clarified that under the current plan, relief from inflated water bills will only be extended to domestic users, not commercial ones or government agencies. The problem of pending water and sewerage charges has persisted since 2012-13, the report Water Minister Parvesh Verma told ToI:'Water is a shared responsibility and ensuring its uninterrupted supply requires collective effort. Resolving these financial bottlenecks will significantly strengthen our capacity to maintain and improve the city's water infrastructure. We are committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure timely solutions in the best interest of every Delhi resident.'Sources cited by ToI said the reasons for the unpaid bills varied widely — some departments dispute being charged commercial rates, while others question the accuracy of billing for unmetered or unknown water connections. Hospitals and government departments have objected to being billed as commercial users. The Railways, in particular, claimed that it didn't have as many water connections as DJB was billing it for, and many of those were Delhi government is now considering a full waiver of late payment surcharges for domestic users. Many people reportedly stopped paying their bills due to inflated amounts caused by faulty or estimated meter readings, bills generated during Covid lockdowns when homes were vacant, or mounting arrears that escalated due to repeated non-payment and accruing penalties. A DJB official admitted that non-payment of disputed bills triggered a spiral of late fees, increasing the amount due officials clarified to ToI that no relief is planned for commercial users or government departments, and complaints related to false meter readings are also outside the scope of the waiver. In October and November 2022, DJB's online portal reportedly received over 10,000 complaints about wrong billing.A proposed one-time settlement scheme, promised last year by the previous government, failed to take address future disputes, DJB plans to replace existing water meters with smart metering devices, which officials believe will eliminate billing errors. The current system, which relies on meter readers submitting physical images, often results in outdated or inaccurate readings, eventually leading to erroneous and inflated inputs from ToI
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Delhi govt depts owe ₹63,000 crore in water dues to DJB, shows data
Even as the Delhi government explores an amnesty scheme for residential water consumers, the city's water utility is grappling with a deepening financial crisis,one that is worsened by a staggering ₹63,019 crore in unpaid dues from government departments, data has revealed. Delhi govt depts owe ₹ 63,000 crore in water dues to DJB, shows data According to the bill pendency report, seen by HT, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has reported bill pendency from 18 government departments — 10 under the central government and eight under the state — with nearly equal contribution to the mounting arrears. Of the total amount, ₹33,295.79 crore is owed by Delhi government departments, while ₹29,723.37 crore is pending from central agencies. The biggest defaulter, the report states, is the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), with around ₹26,147 crore pending against 671 water connections — accounting for over 41% of the total dues. Among Delhi government departments, the health department follows with ₹6,684 crore pending across 544 connections, while DSIIDC ( ₹269 crore), the education department ( ₹31.9 crore), and the public works department ( ₹86.7 crore) are also listed among key defaulters. Among central government departments, the Railways top the list with dues of ₹21,530 crore, followed by Delhi Police with ₹6,097 crore across 354 connections, and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) with ₹372.8 crore in arrears. Responding to the issue, Delhi water minister Parvesh Verma said, 'Water is a shared responsibility, and ensuring its uninterrupted supply requires collective effort. Resolving these financial bottlenecks will significantly strengthen our capacity to maintain and improve the city's water infrastructure. We are committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure timely solutions in the best interest of every Delhi resident.' On July 3, the government announced in-principle approval to waive 100% of the late payment surcharge (LPSC) on pending bills for domestic consumers. However, a decision on dues from government and commercial users — which make up the bulk of DJB's outstanding revenue — is still pending, officials said. According to officials familiar with the matter, DJB is also owed around ₹66,000 crore by commercial users and ₹15,000 crore by domestic users. A significant portion of the total pendency is due to the steep penalties applied through LPSC, which is currently calculated at 18% compound interest. The government is reportedly considering moving away from this model and reducing surcharge rates to prevent inflated billing. The issue of unpaid government water bills is longstanding. In 2020, the then administration had flagged the issue, but officials say payment disputes persist due to misclassification of connections under commercial categories, and unresolved discrepancies from unmetered or non-functional connections. DJB officials said reconciliation of records is underway and a revenue management software upgrade is in progress. The amnesty scheme is expected to launch within the next two months. The government also plans to increase the number of metered connections and phase out faulty mechanical meters in favour of smart meters, in a bid to reduce manual interference and improve billing accuracy. HT reached out to MCD, CPWD and Delhi Police on the issue, but it did not receive a response from them.
