Protesting Jat leaders, who have been demanding reservation in Central services, on Sunday downed the shutters of a plant in Modinagar, UP, which supplies water to the Sonia Vihar treatment plant here hitting adversely various parts of the capital already reeling under acute water shortage. More than 40 per cent of Delhi will be affected due to the cutting off of the water supply line with the Delhi Jal Board deciding to ration water in the capital to deal with the situation.
The DJB chief executive officer Ramesh Negi told this newspaper that he had received the information about the stoppage of water supply for the Sonia Vihar treatment plant. “Delhi chief secretary, Rakesh Mehta, is in touch with his UP counterpart and would be meeting him on Monday. The area district magistrate is reported to be on the spot and is learnt to be making efforts to deal with the situation. A clear picture shall emerge by Monday,” Mr Negi said.
The DJB CEO also stated that the water supply to Sonia Vihar and Bhagirathi Water treatment plants, which cater to the needs of more than 40 per cent of Delhi, would be hit. “As of now, I can say that the DJB will be resorting to rationing of water supply in all parts of the capital to deal with the situation till the normal supply line is restored,” said Mr Negi.
Earlier in the day, members of the Jat community protesting against denial of reservation in Central services, stopped the water supply to Delhi from the Ganga canal. Apparently, angered Jat community leaders decided to stop water supply to Delhi from the Upper Ganga canal after a resolution to take such an action was passed at a public meeting in Modinagar reportedly attended by about 10,000 community members. It is learnt that the leaders proceeded towards the plant at Abupur and downed the shutters .
The south and east Delhi areas are likely to be hit hard due to the stoppage of water supply. The DJB officials said that stoppage of water for Sonia Vihar plant for one day translates to non-supply of water in various areas for three days. The situation further gets compounded, as various parts of Delhi are already reeling under acute water crisis.
“Areas like Vasant Kunj, Dwarka, Vasant Vihar, Saket, which are already parched, will be hit hard the most,” said a senior DJB official.