Twitter
Advertisement

CM Kejriwal set to take over water department

Move comes after govt hints at financial irregularities being carried out by senior officials at the DJB

Latest News
article-main
Arvind Kejriwal
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will take over the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), an important part of the Water Ministry of the Delhi government. The decision was taken late night on Saturday where Kejriwal met the Delhi Water Minister Rajendar Pal Gautam. The official announcement will come out early this week.

The water minister himself confirmed the development. "The CM will now be the chairman of DJB, as he will take over the water utility. This was decided after long consultations that water supply is coming up as a major issue in the city with a large number of complaints regarding it," Gautam said.

The move comes after the Delhi government had hinted at financial irregularities being carried out by senior officials at the DJB. According to sources, the Vidhan Sabha committees had been asking for papers related to 14 projects under two major STPs of DJB, indicating there was an irregularity of over Rs 700 crore in these projects.

"The officers in DJB are only focusing on big projects rather than the problem at the root of water contamination, leakage, and short supply. Since water supply was one of his major concerns even before coming to power, he has decided to take over the utility to change the overall working of the department. The other departments under the water ministry will remain with me," Gautam added.

He will continue to hold the portfolios of SC & ST, Social Welfare, Cooperative and Gurudwara Elections.

The decision also comes following a series of deaths of sanitation workers in the city while cleaning sewers and septic tanks. The sewer network in the national Capital comes under the DJB.

...& ANALYSIS

  • The fact that the Delhi CM has chosen to take charge of the water department shows that AAP once again is paying special focus to water and sewage-related issues. Kejriwal had promised free water when canvassing for votes in 2015.
Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement