Delhi Jal Board imposes Rs 2,000 fine for water wastage amid heatwave
This action follows an "acute shortage" of water in Delhi, with Water Minister Atishi accusing Haryana of not releasing Delhi's allotted share from the Yamuna River.
In the midst of an ongoing intense heatwave and the water crisis in the national capital, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) announced on Wednesday that it will impose a fine of Rs 2,000 on individuals found wasting water. This decision has been made to address the severe water shortage affecting the national capital region, Delhi.
Delhi Jal Board’s Water Conservation Campaign
Under this DJB’s campaign, specific activities will be targeted that lead to water wastage like overflow of water tanks, washing of cars and other vehicles, and the use of domestic water supplies for construction and commercial purposes.
To enforce this, the board will deploy 200 teams across Delhi. These teams will start their operations at 8 am in the morning and will be responsible for identifying and penalising violators.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has ordered the disconnection of any illegal water connections found at construction sites or commercial establishments. This forms a part of a broader effort to make sure that water supplies intended for domestic use are not misappropriately used for any other purposes.
Delhi Water Minister Atishi emphasised the urgency of these measures in an official letter. She stated, “There is an acute heat wave in Delhi and a shortage of water supply since Haryana is not releasing Delhi’s share of water. Under these circumstances, the conservation of water becomes extremely important. However, it has been seen that there is serious wastage of water in many parts of Delhi. There are also illegal connections taken by construction sites and commercial establishments, from water supply meant for domestic use. There is a need to crack down on this misuse of water.”
The severe heatwave has magnified the problem of the water shortage, making it the need of an hour to implement strict measures to conserve water. The decision to deploy 200 teams is aimed at ensuring coverage and enforcement of the new regulations. These teams will operate across various parts of the city, diligently monitoring for instances of water wastage.
The act of penalising the overflow of water tanks, washing vehicles, and using domestic water for construction and commercial purposes highlights the areas where water wastage is most prevalent.
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