Jal Board’s claim of 24-hr water supply faulty: panel

Punching holes in Delhi Jal Board's (DJB) claim of 24-hour water supply through public-private-partnership model, the water privatisation and commercialisation resistance committee on Monday said the faulty agreements signed with private concessionaires would not ensure continuous water supply at consumers' end.

Punching holes in Delhi Jal Board's (DJB) claim of 24-hour water supply through public-private-partnership model, the water privatisation and commercialisation resistance committee on Monday said the faulty agreements signed with private concessionaires would not ensure continuous water supply at consumers' end.

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"The performance of these private companies will be assessed not on the basis of whether or not water is received at all times in every house but at the entry point of each 'District Metred Area' (administrative unit for water distribution)," said Justice (retd) Rajinder Sachar, patron of the Committee.

About three months ago, the DJB had launched three pilot projects for 24-hour water supply under the public private partnership (PPP) model and based on its results, the scheme would now be applicable to the entire national capital.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the right to access clean drinking water is fundamental to the right to life and the state is duty-bound under article 21 of the Constitution to provide clean drinking water to its citizens, Sachar said.

"The PPP model adopted by DJB also does not provide equitable distribution within a particular DMA," he added.

Anil Nauriya, the committee's president, said, "Earlier this year, the Parliament was informed that water was not being privatised in Delhi. It turns out that the authorities distinguish it from the PPP model they have adopted."