BHARAT NIRMAN A CRITICAL SITUATION IN DELHI

In the last issue of COMMON CAUSE we had written generally about Bharat Nirman and specifically for the development works in the rural areas supervised by the normal administrative machinery with an additional monitoring agency enforcing strict accountability. In this issue we wish to talk about Urban Renewal that is also a part of Bharat Nirman. The acute shortage of drinking water that one can foresee in the next several weeks in the city of Delhi is an area of deep concern to COMMON CAUSE. In this issue we will concentrate on this problem as it affects critically the lives of the citizens of Delhi.

The availability of potable water has been considered by the Supreme Court as a Fundamental Right of the citizens. So far it seems that the significance of this basic tenet of our Constitution has not been well understood. There are large areas of Delhi that do not get potable water from the distribution system and those that are connected, get very limited supply, or use on-line booster pumps to suck in the water of the connections upstream and deny water to the connections downstream. On the rule books, this is a criminal act and should be prosecuted in a court of law. However, in light of the ground reality, a Superior Court seems to have ruled that until water can be supplied in reasonable quantities, the consumer has no alternative but to attach a booster pump to suck in his minimum potable water

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needs. For the citizens who are at the end of a supply line this is an undeserved punishment. They do not get their portion of water and still the Jal Board has no qualms in sending to citizens who receive not a drop of water the regular bills which are now based on a minimum charge plus a charge based on the area of the property, plus surcharges of diverse kinds. The citizen who receives such bills where no supply has been given would be fully justified in refusing to pay them. However, we seem to have learned to live with such and other inequities.

 

The acute shortage of water supply especially to South Delhi is by no means a new feature; it has plagued the city for many years and solutions have been offered by the Delhi government and the Jal Board year after year. Only desultory action has been taken. In the meanwhile, since the Jal Board was created, all it has inherited are the ill planned distribution system and a huge debt, inherited because of an oversized establishment, inefficient management of the collection of water charges as also the inability to levy the economic cost for the water. The total resources available are nowhere adequate for repair, maintenance, the overloaded man-power and even minimal development.

 

However, we are primarily concerned here with the supply of potable water especially in the summer months. COMMON CAUSE has suggested to the Union Home Ministry which is in charge of the National Capital Territory of Delhi and is responsible for the efficient administration of the territory, that while the additional supply of water to Delhi is being negotiated with neighbouring States, the highest priority should be given to the reported 40% leakage and pilferage of water from the supply mains. For this purpose, we have suggested that 4-6 Task Forces led by a senior engineer and supported by a magistrate and, where necessary sufficient police force should be formed immediately to plug the leakages and deal with pilferage so that an additional 100-150 KL, or so can be made immediately available. Simultaneously, such minor changes in the distribution system as may be possible, should be carried out immediately. The progress made every fortnight should be communicated to the people by press notes.

 

The supply of water free of cost by tankers should continue and its supervision and distribution offered to the Residents' Welfare Associations. The movements of the tankers should be strictly supervised and if necessary the tanker drivers and pump operators changed around.

 

COMMON CAUSE believes that unless such action is taken immediately an opportunity will again be missed by the people of Delhi to the detriment of the citizens' morale and the credibility both of the Central and Delhi Governments. If you want to love God you must love people. They are His children. You can be helpful materially by giving to the needy; and mentally by giving comfort to the sorrowful, courage to the fearful, divine friendship and moral support to the weak…. Those who give and share, whether they have much or little, will attract prosperity. That is the law of God.

Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda

April-June 2006