Atishi on water crisis: 'Delhi Jal Board reduced number of tankers'

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jun 13, 2024 12:29 IST

As Delhi continues to reel under the water crisis, AAP minister Atishi on Thursday accused the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) of defying the government's instruction to increase the number of water tankers, saying that "DJB officials have reduced the number of water tankers during the summer."

Speaking about the tanker mafia with India Today, Atishi said that stopping the mafia can save a maximum of 0.5 MGD (million gallons per day) of water.

She further said that Delhi is currently facing a shortage of 40 MGD of water.

However, as per the daily "summer bulletin" released by the DJB on its official X handle today, actual production of water was 951.20 MGD, which is only "4.8 MGD less than the actual capacity."

"The water shortage in Delhi can only be resolved if additional Yamuna water from Haryana and Himachal Pradesh is provided to the city," Atishi said.

DELHI POLICE BEGINS PATROLLING MUNAK CANAL

A day after India Today's sting operation on the tanker mafia in the national capital, Delhi Police sprouted into action as it began patrolling around Munak Canal to keep a check on the mafia.

Police personnel from several police stations, including Bawana, Narela, Narela Industrial Area, Shahbad Dairy, and others, have been deployed to patrol the Munak Canal. More than 50 police officers from these stations will patrol the Munak Canal in three shifts. Police pickets are also being set up around the Munak Canal.

DCP Outer North Ravi Kumar will also be sending a detailed report to Delhi Police Headquarters detailing how the Munak Canal is being monitored.

This came after Lieutenant Governor Vinai Saxena ordered Delhi Police to increase vigilance and patrolling in the area.