DJB says Delhi's water distribution not being privatized

New Delhi, July 5 (ANI): The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) on Thursday rejected media reports of it being privatised, saying that Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has only encouraged and sanctioned the DJB's move to go in for a public-private partnership model.

A DJB release issued today said water distribution in Delhi was not being privatised, and that Chief Minister Dikshit has repeatedly said that the equitable distribution of water in Delhi is the need of the hour.

The DJB statement said that pilot projects in certain areas under the Public Private Participation (PPP) model are proposed to be undertaken to improve and revamp DJB's existing water supply, transmission and distribution networks.

It said steps to provide 24x7 water supply in the project area as has happened in other cities like Nagpur, Hubli-Dharwad, Gulbarga and in a number of other Asian and African cities are in the pipeline.

"The PPP projects are for better management of water distribution and not to privatize the board," the DJB said, adding that it would continue to be the owner of all the assets and would retain responsibility for providing water services across the city.

It said that the payment to the private operator would be independent of consumer tariff, consumers would not be required to pay anything to the operator.

The operators payment shall be made by DJB.

Tariff in the pilot project will also continue to be same as in the rest of Delhi, therefore providing better services at no extra cost. The pilot project will also involve RWA representatives in reporting about service delivery and consumer concerns.

Delhi Jal Board is planning to carry out a pilot project for equitable and 24x7 distribution of water in Vasant Viihar,Mehrauli, Malviya Nagar and Nangloi.

After the successful implementation of the pilot projects, the learnings will be extended to the other parts of Delhi. This will improve continuity of supply, reduce risks of contamination and water losses, and will enable DJB to provide better services to its consumers at no extra cost, said the DJB statement. (ANI)