Delhi Water Minister Atishi has written to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, urging the deployment of police personnel to protect major water pipelines in the national capital. In her letter, Atishi emphasised the urgent need for security measures to prevent any tampering or sabotage that could exacerbate the current water crisis.
Atishi's letter highlighted the increasing threats to Delhi's water supply infrastructure. She wrote, "I am writing to request the deployment of police personnel to patrol and protect our major pipelines for the next 15 days to stop miscreants or people with ulterior motives from tampering with water pipelines which have now become Delhi’s lifelines. At this juncture, any foul play and sabotage will worsen the already difficult water shortage being faced by the people of Delhi."
The Delhi Jal Board has its own patrolling teams to oversee the main water distribution network, which includes pipelines carrying raw water to Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) and from these plants to underground reservoirs across the city. However, recent incidents have raised concerns about the security of these vital pipelines.
Atishi mentioned a specific incident in South Delhi where a major leakage was discovered in the South Delhi Rising Mains, a critical pipeline that transports water from the Sonia Vihar WTP to South Delhi.
The patrolling team found that several large bolts had been cut, indicating potential foul play. "Yesterday, our ground patrolling team reported a major leakage in our South Delhi Rising Mains, the main water pipeline that carries water from Sonia Vihar WTP to South Delhi. This was near the DTL substation in Garhi Medhu. Our patrolling team found that several large 375 mm bolts and one 12-inch bolt had been cut from the pipeline, causing the leakage- The fact that several large bolts had been cut seems to indicate foul play and sabotage," Atishi noted in her letter.
The maintenance team had to work for six hours to repair the damage, resulting in a significant water supply disruption. "Our maintenance team worked for six hours continuously and repaired the leakage, but this meant that we had to stop pumping water for 6 hours and 20 MGD of water was not pumped during this time. As a consequence, a further 25 per cent of water shortage will be experienced in South Delhi," Atishi explained.
In light of these events, Atishi reiterated the necessity of deploying police personnel to safeguard the pipelines. "I am writing to request the deployment of police personnel to patrol and protect our major pipelines for the next 15 days. This would be very important for putting a stop to miscreants or people with ulterior motives from tampering with our water pipelines, which have now become Delhi’s lifelines. At this juncture, any foul play and sabotage will worsen the already difficult water shortage being faced by the people of Delhi," she added.
The ongoing water crisis in Delhi has been aggravated by severe heatwave conditions and record-high temperatures, leading to an extraordinary surge in water demand. The situation has prompted various political leaders and parties to take action and address the issue.
The involvement of law enforcement in protecting the city's water infrastructure is seen as a crucial step in ensuring a stable water supply during these challenging times.
Follow us
