DJB does away with mixed-use category

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 24

Providing relief to traders in the city, the Delhi Jal Board today abolished the mixed-use water connection category, converting them into the domestic one. The Board also approved six pilot projects on decentralisation of the sewerage system in the Capital.

The DJB took the decision taken during its 123rd board meeting here.

"The DJB has decided to scrap mixed-use connection category. This included those commercial establishments, which were not using water for commercial purposes, like cloth shops, but were charged for the same. We received several complaints from people so we decided to convert such connections into domestic connection," said Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra, who is also the DJB's chairperson.

In addition, providing relief to people living in multi-storey flats, the Board also decided to increase number of water connections in a single property from six to ten units per plot. 

The move according to Mishra will also put a check on unauthorised use of water supply and help the DJB to bring more consumers under its water network.

Stating that the government has started working on decentralisation of sewage system, Mishra said generally, the sewage water is treated and thrown into the drain and then into the river leading to pollution, construction of sewer infrastructure and the cycle continues. 

The Jan Jal Prabandhan Yojana of the Board is one such scheme through which the Board is promoting the reuse of treated wastewater flows for non-potable purposes in the unauthorised colonies, which are yet to be covered under its water and waste-water services. 

Harnessing solar power

The Solar PV system will be a great potential source for electricity generation that will be installed at various installations and vacant land of DJB, Mishra said.

The DJB is looking at harnessing the potential of renewable sources of energy such as solar power on a large scale that will eventually lead to a saving of Rs 3 crore annually. 

In order to increase the revenue generation, the DJB is exploring new avenues and has approved the proposal to rent out available space on the DJB installations for providing Mobile (Cellular) Network (2G/3G/4G) at sites available in Delhi Jal Board.