Wednesday, October 7, 2020

DJB Privatisation issue ?

PRESS RELEASE

DELHI JAL BOARD

GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI

24th September 2020

Delhi Jal Board under Hon'ble Minister (Water) and Chairman Shri Satyendar Jain approves several projects in its 153rd board meeting

Online application procedure for new connection now more convenient, consumer can take help of Mobile Sahayak under door step delivery of public services by calling 1076

Delhi Jal Board approves construction of Decentralized Sewage Treatment Plant at Kanjhawala Village in 20,000 sqm

DJB approved the proposal to install 200 Tubewells in the flood plains of Palla in a phased manner

New Delhi:

Hon'ble Minister of Water and Chairman of Delhi Jal Board Shri Satyendar Jain chaired the 153rd Board Meeting held today at the Delhi Secretariat. Several projects were passed which aimed at improving the water and sewer network of the DJB.

The Board accorded approval to the policy for Operation and Management of water and sewerage networks in entire Delhi (except 3PPP) areas for implementation of One Zone - One Operator schemes in Delhi Jal Board. DJB is responsible for the procurement of raw water, treatment and supply to all the five local bodies namely 3 MCDs, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB). It is also responsible for collection, conveyance and treatment of wastewater generated in the entire NCT of Delhi, either directly or indirectly. It currently takes wastewater from the NDMC and the DCB areas, both of which are responsible for the provision of local sewer networks within their own territories. DJB manages about 14500 km. of water lines and 9000 km. of sewer lines to provide water supply and sewerage services to about 20 million people of Delhi. DJB aims to provide 24x7 clean drinking water to all residents of Delhi and proper maintenance of sewerage network. After extensive discussions and deliberations at various levels to improve the services and bring efficient management in the water supply and sewerage system it was decided to award the contracts to private operators for Operation, Maintenance & Management of Water Supply and Sewerage Networks in various zones of Delhi on the lines of "One Zone-One Operator". Delhi being a large metropolitan city is divided in 7-8 Zones (except areas under PPP Projects) as per the feasibility of division of the networks, UGRs command areas and sewerage outfall boundaries and accordingly 7-8 Operator contracts may be awarded except for 3 PPP areas. The operators will be appointed for a period of 10 years under One Zone - One Operator schemes.

The Board also accorded approval for a simplified procedure for new connection of water/sewer like only online application will be accepted for new connection in order to make system more simplified and paperless for people who can not apply online can take help of the facility of Mobile Sahayak under door step delivery of public services by calling 1076. Further in case where there is non-availability of ownership document, the applicant can submit one of the identity documents and  three months paid electricity bills along with self declaration/undertaking for obtaining water/sewer connection from DJB. In case to check the technical feasibility field inspection was done by the engineering wing but now no inspection is required in all cases where the colony is notified for water/sewer services by engineering wing or applicant has property within permissible height limits, plot size is less than 200sqm etc. The above changes will make the mechanism more transparent, hassle free and paperless. Detailed information regarding the same will be available with the Zonal Revenue Offices of DJB.

For bringing about improvement of the water distribution system, the Board accorded approval to the following proposals:

To utilize the optimum potential of groundwater the Board approved the proposal to install 200 Tubewells in the flood plains of Palla in phased manner, particularly to meet the additional demand of water in summer season by the residents of Delhi. These Tubewells will in turn augment the water supply available with DJB. According to M/s web cost limited specialized/expert in this field submitted of preliminary  report stating that there is a potential of extraction of water tune of 65 MGD (50 MGD upstream A5 Palla  & 15 downstream of A5 upto Wazirabad) against the existing extraction 32MGD to 35 MGD. 

Chandrawal WTP comprises Chandrawal Phase-I (35 MGD) and Phase-II (55 MGD) constructed in the year 1935 and 1955 respectively. At present, the plant is running at 93 MGD capacity. There is a demand for more water under the command areas of Chandrawal Water Works. It is observed that there is a capacity to pump more water in the lines as pressure is  less during the Summer. But there is a constraint for increasing production due to old filter houses. Chandrawal WTP-I has a clarifier capacity of 40 MGD but filter capacity is 35 MGD only. There is a gap of 05 MGD. For filling this gap these prefabricated sand filters of 18 MLD (MGD) are proposed to install specifically designed sand filters at Chandrawal WTP, Phase I with 18 MLD capacity to treat & augment water at Chandrawal WTP. The work includes the design, fabrication, installation commissioning, operation and maintenance for a period of 12 months. This will help in increase in production of plants without affecting the existing production.

Extension of the work of Operation & Maintenance of 16 MGD Recycling & WTP at Haiderpur for 05 years for further extended period of 07 months so that the production is not hampered. Total cost of the project is Rs. 25,22,52,968/- approximately. 

Providing and Laying Water distribution System in Shaheen Bagh in Okhla Constituency. The colony has been cleared by the urban Development Department, regarding development work. At present there is general scarcity of water in the area. The water is being supplied through tankers and a number of DJB bore-wells through G.I. pipe network. It is considered to lay the internal water supply network based on the tube well water for the time being and gradually adding filtered water to rationalize the water supply of different areas. In time to come filtered water will be available from 4+4 MGD WTP at Okhla water works which is expected to complete in 2 years. Total cost of the project is Rs. 8,66,47,853,00/- approximately. 

Providing and laying of internal water distribution System in Abul Fazal Enclave, Block E to N in Okhla Constituency. This is an unauthorized colony, having Registration No.236 in the list of 1798 of U/A colonies. The colony has been cleared by the urban Development Department, regarding development work. This colony is under the command of Okhla water works. At present, the water is being supplied through tankers and a number of DJB bore-wells through G.I. pipe network. Seeing this it was considered to lay the internal water supply and filtered water will be gradually added by rationalizing the water supply of different areas. The cost of the project is Rs. 3,82,68,435/- approximately. 

Due to over exploitation of ground water, the water table has alarmingly gone down in the NCT of  Delhi.  Hence it is the need of the day  to extensively use the rain water to recharge the groundwater through natural /artificial water bodies and rain water harvesting structures.

The below given (SOP) for execution of Water-Bodies Project is finalised:

All water bodies should have 3 phases of Development. 

Phase 1 Removal of Garbage, Fencing of site, Excavation of pond up to desired depth.

Phase II- Arranging of water from the source (a) Nearest STP (b) Setting up D-STP.

Phase III - Landscaping of the water-bodies for creating public space.

Phase I and II should happen immediately.

DJB has to do around 200+ water-bodies including the ones transferred from 1&FC.

Where D-STP has to be installed, Tender should be done on a DBO model with 15 Years O&M on NGT Parameters. 

Only proven technologies with a successful track record of installation and O&M should be allowed in the DBO model.

Number of water-bodies should be clubbed in the package of 30 to 50 each package and bids should be floated in parallel to expedite the process.

Scope of work must include: Cleaning of MSW / Silt/Sludge / Cow Dung from site; Deepening of pond (Whether wet or dry) up to desired depth; Diversion of existing sewage if flowing into the pond.

Basic survey information like (a) Area of water-body; (b) Status of water-body; (c) Water Quality; (d) Groundwater Levels should be provided by the DJB to the bidders.

Project cost to be evaluated on the concept of Life Cycle Cost. Recharge pits should be constructed equal to 50% volume of STP Capacity. Automation should be allowed to the bidder to save the cost.

Board accorded approval to the below given projects for better sewerage facilities in entire Delhi: As per the direction of Hon'ble High Court Delhi to provide civic amenities in the extended abadi of Kanjhawala, DSIIDC allotted a piece of land measuring 20,000sqm to Delhi Jal Board for construction of Decentralized Sewage Treatment Plant at Kanjhawala Village at a cost of approx. 29crore so that sewerage facilities can be provided in the extended abadi of village Kanjhawala.

Delhi Jal Board at present collects sewerage charges @60% of water volumetric charge in water bills wherever sewerage network has been laid and made functional. Sewerage Charges are collected only from those households by DJB which have water connections in sewered areas. There are many households getting water from DJB and generating sewerage but are not paying sewerage charges as the sewer network has not been laid. DJB bills around 25.20 lakh active water connections out of which around 19.94 lakh consumers lie in sewered areas and sewerage charges worth 60% of water volumetric charges are being levied in water bills and already being paid by them. Hon'ble Supreme Court and Hon'ble NGT  have directed  that the system of Sewerage Charges through Polluters Pay Principle (PPP)/ Environmental Compensation has to be collected from all polluters, implying generators of sewage, in all areas irrespective of their sewered or unsewered status.