DELHI JAL BOARD LAW- CLEAN POTABLE WATER

INTRODUCTION

Delhi Jal Board (DJB) is the government agency responsible for supply of potable water to
the most of the National Capital Territory region of Delhi, India. Delhi Jal Board was
constituted on 6 April 1998 through an Act of the Delhi Legislative Assembly incorporating
the previous Delhi Water Supply and Sewage Disposal Undertaking. DJB is also responsible
for treatment and disposal of waste water.
Prior to this Act the above function were entrusted with earstwhile Delhi Water Supply and
Sewage Disposal Undertaking. The Board shall also be bound to supply to the New Delhi
Municipal Council, Delhi Cantonment Board and Military Engineering services, at the place
or places at which immediately before the commencement of this Act, the Delhi Water
supply & Sewage Disposal Undertaking constituted under the Delhi Municipal Corporation
Act, 1957.
Apart from piped water supply, and collection and treatment of sewage, Delhi Jal Board
provides the following services to its customers:

 Supply of potable water through tankers on demand

 Supply of packaged water "JAL" in jars through Jal Suvidha Kendras.
 Supply of Biogas and sludge Manure(Limited areas).
 Water meter testings.
 Testing of Water samples.

HISTORY

For over 5 decades, Delhi Jal Board has been meeting the needs of potable water for the
National Capital Territory of Delhi. The population of Delhi has seen phenomenal growth
and has crossed the figure of 140 lacs, apart from the floating population of 4 to 5 lacs.
Through systematic planning and implementation, the Board has ensured average
availability of 50 gallons filtered water per capita per day for the residents of Delhi, through
a network of about 9000 km of water mains/lines. Production of water during 2003-2004
was around 670 MGD, Raw water is obtained from various sources line the river Yamuna,
Bhakra Storage, Upper Ganga Canal, and Ground Water. The first foreman or technical head
in Delhi Jal Board was Harkesh Kasana.
[Section 4(1)(b)(i)] of the Act says:
1. Aims and objectives of the organization. Delhi Jal Board was constituted on 30th
March, 1998 to discharge the functions of water supply, sewerage and sewage disposal
and drainage within the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Prior to this Act the above
function were interested with earthwhile Delhi Water Supply and Sewage Disposal
Undertaking. The Board shall also be bound to supply to the New Delhi Municipal
Councel, Delhi Cantonment Board and Military Engineering services, at the place or
places at which immediately before the commencement of this Act, the Delhi Water
Supply & Sewage Disposal Undertaking constituted under the Delhi Municipal
Corporation Act, 1957.
2. Mission: Delhi Jal Board, Constituted under Delhi Water Board Act, 1998 is responsible
for production and distribution of drinking water in Delhi. The Board is also responsible
for collection, treatment and disposal of Waste Water/Sewage in the capital. Delhi Jal
Board has provided about 17, 15, 037 lacs water connections up to 01.04.2009. Delhi Jal
Board is committed to provide efficient and prompt services to the citizens of Delhi and
to the courteous in personal behaviour and professional in conduct. 

Vision: Our vision is to be environmentally sensitive provider of a quality, reliable and

reasonably priced drinking water and waste water collection and treatment system
services. We aim at providing safe drinking water and efficient sewerage services in an
equitable and sustainable manner and to become an accountable service provider.
Realization of this vision would promote a virtuous circle in terms of greater supply
reliability and service quality, leading to greater customer satisfaction, improved
willingness to pay and enhanced cost recovery. It will also include 24/7 water supply
and financial sustainability and accountability, improved services to the poor, Customer
Orientation and Human Resources Development, Environmental Sustainability and
Enhancing Operational Efficiency.

WATER PROBLEMS IN DELHI

Well, there is not one but many causes for the water problem in Delhi. We cannot ignore its
fast paced population growth. We cannot ignore the fast paced growth of slums in various
localities in Delhi. Thousands of people live in Delhi without adequate water supply and
sanitation services. The reason being the groundwater table is depleted. Also, the warmer
climate and deficit rainfall have also led to the growth of water shortages in the Capital.

According to World Bank experts, the next war among neighbouring countries and cities
worldwide will be for “water” and this is a scenario the experts have predicted to take place
by 2020. But in reality, in Delhi, the national Capital, the war over water has already started.
There has been a continuous war going on between Delhi and Haryana regarding the
sharing of water between the two States but nothing has been officially finalised. The
national Capital has been facing severe water scarcity for a very long time, and now things
have worse.

The access to water (and sanitation) has been recently included as one of the internationally
recognized human rights. The city of Delhi with its fast growing population is an example of
unplanned urbanization which is associated amongst other things with irregular supply and
uncertainty in the availability of water for drinking and other domestic needs. Every year in
the summer when the water flow of the river Yamuna is reduced, this water crisis becomes
very acute. The water situation in city is in some sense a great equalizer in the sense that
some of the most posh colonies face the water crisis while some of the slum areas may have
a plentiful supply of water. Many of the established areas with piped water supply
frequently face the problem of the supply of contaminated water which smells bad and is no
good for any use. Ironically, the average per capita supply of water is said to be one of the
best in the world cities. A large number of areas have piped water supply, but within that
there are many who are still dependent on the private water tankers. At least one fourth of
the city gets its supply through water tankers with a quantum of available water supply as
low as 3 litres per capita per day, while the city average is said to be 120 litres per capita per
day. The thematic audit of Delhi Jal Board points out that 24.8 per cent of Delhi’s population
is being supplied with 3.82 litres per capita daily, far less than the minimum stipulated
average or the 40 litres minimum established by the World Health Organisation. 49% of
water produced, does not generate any revenue (non-revenue water or NRW). This is an
unacceptably high level. However, the non-metered supplies through tankers and stand-
posts account for an estimated 8% of water produced, about a sixth of the NRW.

Given the failure of the Delhi government to ensure water supply, close to a third of the
city’s residents are thus forced to depend on so- called “informal systems of water supply”
meaning private contractors supplying water drawn from bore-wells at high rates. All this is
leading to severe public resentment, often spilling out into the streets. It has been
estimated that about 200,000 such tube-wells exist. In addition to private tube-wells, there
are supplies of DJB bottled water as well as numerous hand-pumps. No consumption figures
are available for hand-pump supplies.

Bottled water supplies by DJB are so small as to be insignificant. Nevertheless, 23% of

households used such sources for at least part of their water supplies, as revealed by the
sample selected for the willingness- to-pay survey carried out under the Study.

On paper, about 12% of Delhi’s water needs are met by groundwater reserves. Unofficially,
the figure reaches almost 50%. A recent analysis of groundwater abuse conducted by the
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) reveals that over 2,000 private tankers draw
groundwater from tube- wells and sell it to residential localities and industries at exorbitant
rates. Their business is pegged at Rs. 400 crore annually. Even the latest assessment of
groundwater resources carried out by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), in
collaboration with the state government, says that out of 27 sub-district areas – tehsils – in
nine districts, 20 tehsils are over-exploited.
Hence, there is a large deficit in the water supply system, partly alleviated by private
alternative supplies. Private measures are also prevalent to help reduce the shortcomings of
the system.

Despite this, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), in its current mode of operation, is unable to
meet the water and wastewater needs of the nation’s capital, and provides its citizens with
an erratic and unequally distributed water supply that is well below international standards. 

The Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi
recognize the urgent need for reform. They have therefore requested the World Bank’s
support in helping DJB improve the reliability, sustainability, and affordability of Delhi's
water supply and sanitation services.

Ahead of the summer, Delhi sees the same story play out every year of depleting
groundwater levels, of the water mafia who run illegal bore-wells, of apathy by Delhi
administration, of haphazard urbanisation and flawed development models, of faulty or
non-existent plans to meet the ever-rising demand for water and of courts reprimanding
civic authorities. But more than anything, of a callous Delhi citizenry that exploits
groundwater as if there is no tomorrow.

On May 9, many citizens woke up to alarming newspaper headlines that pointed to the

over-exploitation of groundwater, with the Supreme Court calling the situation "semi-
critical". The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) told the top court that in different parts
of the capital, the groundwater level has steadily declined from 0.5 metre a year to more
than two metres a year and "could lead to a crisis if not halted".

The report further said that in 2000, the water level in 27 per cent of Delhi's landscape
stood at 0-5 metres below the ground, but in just 17 years, the area has shrunk to 11 per
cent. In 2000, water was available 40 metres below ground level (bgl.) but in 2017, for 15
per cent of Delhi (around 222 sq km), it depleted to 40-80 metres bgl.

To put it simply, over the last two decades, there has been an increase in the number of
spots where one needs to dig deeper to reach the groundwater.

Situated at the tail-end of the water distribution system, and far from the water treatment
plants, for decades now, many areas of southeast, south and southwest Delhi have been
facing water problems. Instead of adopting remedial measures, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB)
has, time and again, indirectly encouraged the water tanker mafia by not acting against
them.

This water tanker mafia merrily go about digging illegal bore-wells, emptying Delhi's
precious aquifers.
 The per capita availability of water in Delhi is more than that in Amsterdam and
Hamburg. Delhi has water but the supplies are shattering. The problem is more than what
appears on the surface and the other megacity on the western front of the country -
Mumbai. Ironically Mumbai, which is infamous for heavy rains and flash floods, stares at a
huge water crisis. And so are Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune and the likes. Twenty
two of 32 metros in India are facing severe water crisis. In the early 1950s, the quality of
urban water services in Delhi was similar to the best of other major urban centres of Asia.
Even in 1970s, Delhi water supplies were on a par with major Asian cities and commercial
centres. Something went horribly wrong after that. Today more than 50 per cent of the
precious water in Delhi is lost due to pipe leakages and dilapidated water infrastructure in
the city. This story is very much the same in other metros of the country.

Nearly 63 million people in India do not have access to safe drinking water, and increased
pollution of water-bodies and poor storage infrastructure over the years, has created a
water deficit which may become unmanageable in the future. A Water Aid report in
2016 ranked India among the worst countries in the world for the number of people
without safe water.

The Asian Development Bank has forecasted that by 2030, India will have a water deficit
of 50 per cent. The Union Ministry of Water Resources has estimated the country’s
current water requirements to be around 1100 billion cubic metres per year, which is
estimated to grow to around 1200 billion cubic metres for the year 2025. The numbers are
scary, and the bottom line is that, we are looking at a looming water crisis.

The situation can still be salvaged if Delhi and citizens of Delhi learn to appreciate the value
of water and stick to the WHO norms of using 135 litres per capita per day (lpcd). Currently,
most of Delhi's plush colonies get about 220 lpcd or more of water while the Lutyens' zone
bungalows get about 500lpcd. Then there are fringe zones such as Devali and Mehrauli that
do not get water on a daily basis, let alone the promised 200 litres. The larger question is:
why can't Delhi go for equitable distribution?

Despite simple, effective measures, there is little progress. We must revive surface water
bodies and small and big lakes that can store rainwater and recharge the depleting
groundwater, plant more trees so that there is less desertification and recycle and re-use
the grey water for which extensive studies have been carried out.

It is high time we treat the existing sewage and bring down the BoD that will enable the
Yamuna to flow better.
Many a time, the authorities play foul. For instance, "Natural Heritage First" volunteers have
been in the process of reviving a water body in Dwarka but the Delhi Development
Authority (DDA) officials have spectacularly thwarted the community's attempt to own and
restore it.

The least that the authorities can do is take stringent action against the water tanker mafia
and illegal borewells across the city

DELHI JAL BOARD CRITICISM

In an article by ‘daily O’(https://www.dailyo.in/variety/groundwater-alarm-for-delhi-

supreme-court-delhi-jal-board-ncr-water-crisis/story/1/24016.html) calls Delhi Jal Board –
Delhi’s bane. It was also said that, “The trouble starts with the capital's nodal agency for
water, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). While it preaches rainwater harvesting, much like the Delhi
government it hardly walks the talk. Few government buildings have rainwater harvesting
systems but most of them are not functional.

So, instead of harvesting much of the still abundant 650-700mm rainfall that Delhi records
annually, the DJB depends on neighbouring states to quench the capital's thirst. But since
the 750-odd million gallons per day (MGD) it gets is highly inadequate, it extracts almost
100MGD of water to meet the gap. Yet, it fails.

Owing to the insufficient supply, more and more residents turn to groundwater. No wonder
the dark zones keep increasing by the year. South and southwest Delhi are contagious areas,
as is neighbouring Gurgaon where the water levels have been depleting at an alarming rate.
Large-scale construction, water-guzzling malls and extraction by residents go unchecked in a
city that is perennially in the making.

This has had a drastic impact on Delhi as groundwater aquifers do not know political
boundaries - the same is the case for East Delhi that has contagious aquifers owing to
neighbouring Noida and Ghaziabad.
What is tragic is various agencies in Delhi do not seem to agree over who is responsible for
acting against illegal bore wells. There is a district-level committee that is supposed to give
permissions for new bore wells. Apart from other departments, the committee has a
revenue department official and a representative from the DJB.

The DJB claims that it is not its job to act against illegal diggers. On the other hand, the
revenue officials claim that for them to take action, the DJB must first point out which are
illegal bore wells. This buck passing has meant that groundwater extraction continues
unabated.

The DJB, the revenue department, the environment department of Delhi government and
even the CGWB officials all feigned ignorance about the staggering number of bore wells.
Needless to say the officials got an earful from the court which asked them to submit a
report in the matter in 10 days. My report was based on the Census 2011 data, drawn from
one of the government's own arms. But its other arms were unaware of that data and
claimed they had no such information about the bore wells.”

Also, study says 70% of drinking water is unsafe in Delhi. Almost 70% of samples collected
from different parts of Delhi that were tested by MCD a few years ago were found to be
impure. “At least 20% of Delhi people are not getting drinkable water by Indian standards,”
former chairman of MCD’s public health committee, Dr VK Monga, said. The Delhi Jal Board
supplies drinking water in Delhi-NCR through its pipes and water tankers. Water quality
deteriorates during the pre-monsoon and monsoon period.

Sanjeev Goyal, a scientist at the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, has
been roped in by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to conduct water quality tests in Delhi. He listed
three main causes for pollution in Delhi — Algal growth and related contamination in the
water pipes of supply system, mixing of sewage water with drinking water in case of
breakage of pipelines and outlived water pipe system.

The DJB has contested the findings saying that their tests have shown that water all over

Delhi was potable. They have argued that most of the contamination can be traced to “old

rusted service pipe connections of the consumers” which also affects the main supply line.
In most places, water pipes are running alongside and crossing sewage lines and drains in

Delhi, which makes the water supply susceptible to sewage contamination, Monga said.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/world-water-day-70-delhi-water-unsafe-for-

drinking-says-study/story-OT8RKj8K9DnBlEBEOlOajN.html

CAUSES OF WATER SCARCITY IN DELHI

Every day, water has to be delivered to the people living in the outer parts of Delhi. Millions
living in these slums don't have access to water and sanitation services as the groundwater
table is depleted. "These areas have been populated 20-25 years. There has never been
enough water here, but the water shortage is a growing problem.

These are the general causes:

 In fact, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) who is responsible for water supply and management
has not been able to arrange proper distribution of water. Most parts of the city
have no piped connections. Various localities depend on tankers.
 In summers, it is a perpetual problem in Delhi. Every year, Delhi has to depend on
other neighbouring States like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Uttarakhand for
water supply, when it has in its heart the Yamuna river. The reason being there has
always been poor water management. A lot of water gets wasted.
 The Delhi Jal Board is to be blamed as it has not been able to keep its infrastructure
and equipment in better condition. Most of the water , around 52%, gets wasted due
to leaks in the pipelines of the DJB.
 There is also no proper water treatment and waste disposal facilities in the Capital.
The poor sewage treatment causes the shortage of potable water as there are no
proper means to treat sewage water for re-use.
 There are around 600 water bodies, which need to be replenished.
 Also, distribution of water haphazardly, loss of water in transmission and
distribution, unauthorised use of water and unmetered water supply have all
contributed towards water shortage in the Capital.
 MEASURES

Summer action plan introduced by Delhi jal board:

http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/32c8720043b6dd7c9705bf7dfcfecf7e/SAP_2018.pdf?
MOD=AJPERES&lmod=604996771

Delhi Jal Board Public Monitoring of Drinking Water Tanker:

http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/DOIT_DJB/djb/our+services1/public+monitoring+of+
drinking+water+tanker

Delhi Jal Boards Packaged Drinking Water Bottling Plant:

http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/DOIT_DJB/djb/our+services1/delhi+jal+boards+packa
ged+drinking+water+bottling+plant

CONCLUSION

The unfinished tasks in water supply in urban areas may be summed up as augmentation to
reach the prescribed norms, higher degree of reliability, assurance of water quality, a high
standard of operation and management, accountability to customers and in particular
special arrangements to meet the needs of the urban poor, and levy and recovery of user
charges to finance the maintenance functions as well as facilitate further investment in the
sector. The achievement of these tasks depends to a large on the willingness of the State
Governments and ULBs to make restructure water supply organisations, levy reasonable
water rates, take up reforms in billing, accounting and collection, and become credit-worthy
in order to have access to market funding. In addition, measures suggested earlier for
conservation, reuse, and re-charging of water sources, should be taken up
The decision to take up an augmentation project should be preceded by a detailed study of
the needs of consumers, and the possibility of managing the available capacity more
efficiently. The exercise should be in three parts and should be made by each city/town
seeking augmentation of water supply. In fact, in view of its significance to improving the
quality of civic services, the exercise should be carried out for every town and city.
Assessment of Investment Needs –
Restoration and Renovation: Assessment of the investment needs of system improvement,
for plugging leakages, for ensuring more equitable distribution, and measures required to
be taken for managerial autonomy and performance improvement has to be made.
Augmentation: Outline of a proposal for augmenting supply and improving distribution
(including storage and treatment of water), with identification of possible sources, and line
estimation of cost, will be prepared.

The study should preferably be carried out initially by the state-level water and sanitation
agency (PHE Division, Water and Sanitation Board, etc.) in association with the concerned
ULB. Experts should be engaged to help in the study in respect of particularly complex cases.
Residents’ associations and non-government organisations should also be associated in the
study.