The Hindu : New Delhi News : "Paani Adalat'' to be held on May 3

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 29, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

"Paani Adalat'' to be held on May 3

Staff Reporter

Jal board blamed for selling dreams to the people

NEW DELHI: : In a novel method aimed at airing the water woes of the residents of his area, the Delhi MLA from Saket, Vijay Jolly, on Thursday announced that he would be holding a public "Paani Adalat'' in front of Varunalaya, the headquarters of Delhi Jal Board, on May 3 to highlight the worsening water situation in his constituency and other parts of the Capital. Prominent citizens and political leaders would be asked to conduct the proceedings of the public court that day.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Jolly accused the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, who is also the Chairperson of the Delhi Jal Board, of misleading the people of Delhi and the Delhi Assembly on the issue of getting water for the Sonia Vihar water treatment plant.

"Ms. Dikshit had charged the Opposition with misleading the people and had promised that water would flow very shortly. Now it is announced that Sonia Vihar will not get water for another eight months, exposing the hollow claims of the Chief Minister. Ms. Dikshit should resign as Chairperson of the Delhi Jal Board as under her leadership its performance has taken a beating,'' he added.

Stating that not only Saket but also other parts of Delhi were facing an acute water shortage, Mr. Jolly said the DJB had been doing nothing but selling dreams to the people. "Ms. Dikshit had said inside the House that there was no need to talk to the Uttaranchal Government for getting water for the Sonia Vihar plant. Then she despatches the DJB CEO to hold talks with the same Government and the Tehri dam authorities. Everything is being done in a haphazard manner and there is a need to scrutinise the performance of the DJB during the past six years of her stewardship,'' he said.

Transfer racket

Citing the example of his constituency, Mr. Jolly said he had sanctioned Rs. 44 lakhs from his fund during 2004-05 for re-boring of new tube wells. But till date those funds have not been utilised. A large number of officers have been transferred and posted back and then again transferred during the past six months without any valid reason, raising suspicions of a transfer racket.

He said the people living in Saket, Sangam Vihar, Pusph Vihar, Devli village, Duggal Colony, Jawahar Park, Raju Park, Bank Colony, Dugra Vihar, Krishna Park, Khanpur village, Tigri Extension, JJ Camp Tigri, Harijan Basti areas in his constituency were reeling under severe water scarcity. Accusing the DJB of promoting the water mafia, Mr. Jolly said all developmental projects were being held up in order to promote, aid and abet this mafia by creating a shortage in the area. Water is being openly sold at Rs. 300 to Rs. 500 per month in Sangam Vihar area. The idea of the upcoming ``Paani Adalat'' is to allow the resident welfare associations of his and other areas to air their grievances and the same would be submitted to the DJB CEO for time bound action.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi