Sheila Dikshit pitches for reforms in water sector on lines of power

Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit today said reforms on the lines of power sector can be brought in the city's water distribution system too, but only after a consensus is reached on the issue.

Answering a question in the Delhi Assembly about water supply problems, Dikshit said the water sector can also be revolutionised in the way reforms have been implemented in power distribution in the city.

The Delhi government had privatised the distribution of electricity in the city several years ago.

The chief minister said reforms can be brought in only after consensus on the issue.

She also said a presentation on the issue of water sector reforms will be made in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and will be shown to all MLAs in around the month of May.

Last year, the government had initiated reform in water billing and installation of meter and had involved IT major Tata Consultancy Services in these two key areas.

The government had introduced electronic system of billing to plug the loopholes and help Delhi Jal Board in enhancing its revenue.

Officials had earlier said in the next stage, the government may hand over maintenance of the water distribution network to private entities from the Delhi Jal Board.

The average demand of potable water in the city is around 1,100 mgd (million gallon per day) and currently DJB supplies around 800 mgd water.