Politicians/DJB members, board officials work in connivance with consultants and companies causing losses to the public exchequer. Delhiites get water at high rates and increased water bills as 50 per cent of DJB work is under private operators. Claim of 24X7 water supply in Delhi is false and through increased water tariff citizens will pay for huge expenses and scams.  

Recently, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) awarded contract for distribution and revenue collection to private operators in Malviya Nagar, Vasant Vihar, Mehrauli and Nangloi areas. All these projects are overpriced for more than Rs 1000 crore.  

PPP in water is nothing but a tool for corruption and scams. DJB officers, politicians, consultants and private companies would pocket the amount, as they are working in connivance with each other. The public will pay back the overpriced charges in terms of enhanced infrastructure charges, development charges and tariffs. 

Since last one decade when DJB started handing over its facilities to private operators, the water tariff has increased manifold. Today DJB has already privatized its more than 50 per cent work, including handing over the “Water Treatment Plants” and “Sewage Treatment Plants” to private companies. 

Till 2004 the water bills on an average were in the range of Rs 125-150 per month and at that time the water charges were only Rs 0.35 to Rs 3.00 per 1,000 liters. But today monthly water bill of a consumer is on an average Rs 1,000 per month and he is paying Rs 4 to Rs 50 per 1,000 liters of water (including sewerage charge) and on 1st January, the consumers water bills will be again raised by more than 15-16 per cent. This is the cost what a consumer is paying for these overpriced projects and corruption of DJB.

What is the benefit that people get except high rise in water tariffs? Did any service improve? No! 

Today around 300 MGD of water production is with private operators. Around 90 per cent of sewage treatment is with private operators. “Given the reasons such as “efficiency of private operators etc”, why do areas under private operators do not get water? Why Yamuna is still dirty if private partners carry out 90 per cent sewage treatment?” asked S.A. Naqvi of Citizen Front for Water Democracy (CFWD). We wish to know what services benefit consumers after spending thousands of crores of rupees till date.

In the Malviya Nagar study, the consultant of DJB found that maximum complaints (92 per cent) were relating to no water in the area. This area gets supply from Sonia Vihar Water Treatment Plant, which is operated and maintained by a private company Degremont. The private operators found involved in fabrication on records of water production and people are not getting their rightful water.

“But surprisingly, DJB ignored this aspect and awarded the work of distribution and revenue collection to the same company Degremont, which has failed to produce water as per the WTP’s capacity depriving people of their rightful water share,” Naqvi said. 

All these PPP projects are corrupt projects and designed to benefit private operators. The projects are not only non-transparent but DJB’s claims too are false. One major promise for going in for the PPP model is 24X7 water supply. There is no mention in contract agreements that Company will supply 24X7 water in Vasant Vihar, Mehrauli and in Nangloi. There is no guarantee that consumers in the PPP project areas will get 24X7 water,” claimed Citizen Front for Water Democracy.

The Front has written letters to the Chief Minister, Members of the Board, CVC, Vigilance on the involvement of corruption, irregularities, violation of law and rules in the PPP cases with adequate proofs, but no action has been taken as yet. The letter dated 25th of October drew attention to the overpriced Nangloi project with cost comparison but surprisingly the Board ignored the serious allegation and proofs showing Rs 1,000 crore overpricing and went ahead to approve award of work to Veolia on October 26,” Sanjay Sharma, a member of Water Workers Alliance, alleged. 

Who will benefit from this 1000 Cr? Why were serious allegations ignored and no enquiry held?

Mr. Naqvi said the Front will soon bring all the proofs of corruption in public domain and launch a public awareness program on corrupt activities.

Mr. Ram Parkash, President of Water Sewer and Sewerage Employees Union, also said employees would take to streets to oppose these corrupt projects.

Contact:  

S.A. Naqvi, Convener, Citizens Front for Water Democracy, Mob: 9871449968

Sanjay Sharma, Water Workers Alliance, Mob: 9716621234, Email:cfwdglobal@gmail.com