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Sheila pleads for priority to drinking water

Staff Reporter

Pleads for more more powers to Delhi and its duly elected Government

NEW DELHI: Stung by the refusal of neighbouring States to release raw water to the Capital during the peak summer season, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday made out a strong plea to accord national priority to drinking water in order to address the needs of the people and meet the scarcity during summers.

Addressing the National Development Council session on its second day, Ms. Dikshit said it was high time water was identified as a priority sector at the national level in view of the scarcity of the commodity in various States particularly the Capital. "It is important to provide drinking water to the people and the surplus States should lend a helping hand in this connection,'' she added.

Sonia Vihar plant

Not specifically mentioning the Rs.880-crore 140 million-gallons-a-day (MGD) Sonia Vihar water treatment plant and the refusal of the Uttar Pradesh Government to supply water to Delhi, Ms. Dikshit said the needs of the Capital also need to be looked from the national point of view as Delhi was often referred to as mini India where people from States descended for various reasons. It is also learnt that Ms.Dikshit held informal talks with the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, seeking raw water for the Sonia Vihar plant. Though Mr. Yadav did not reject the plea outrightly, he did not say when it would be released.

Making a fervent plea to give more powers to Delhi and its duly elected Government, Ms.Dikshit said the continued multiplicity of authority in the Capital was hampering development and the execution of various works suffered.

Stating that it was high time Delhi was given more powers to fulfill the aspirations of the people who have elected a Government of their choice, the Chief Minister said that with the present state of limited powers, it was not possible to fulfil the mandate completely.

A large number of organisations dealing with land and other related issues came under the jurisdiction of the Central Government. A large number of agencies were operating at different levels and at times working at cross-purposes. This situation had to end and the only solution was to empower the Delhi Government with more administrative and financial powers.

Claiming success in initiating power reforms, Ms. Dikshit said her Government had set the road map for other States to follow as the privatisation of power had been a very smooth process in the Capital.

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