Press Release

Yamuna River Will Be Cleaned up by December 2023 and Delhi Will Get 24-Hrs Water Supply By 2025: Satyendra Jain

22nd March 2022, New Delhi: “In Delhi, we are going to do two things, first - we will clean the Yamuna river by December 2023 and not 2025, and secondly, all homes in Delhi will get 24-hrs water supply by 2025,” said Mr Satyendar Jain, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Industries, Home, PWD, Power, Water, Urban Development, and Irrigation & flood Control, Govt. of NCT of Delhi at a virtual session that was held on the occasion of World Water Day.  

The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM), an apex industry body, the webinar was based on ‘CLEAN WATER FOR DELHI- Challenges and Solutions’, Mr Jain added, “We will also clean all the water nalas. For those who say that it cannot happen, I’d like to tell them that we will make it happen. The population has increased 3-times since Delhi got access to water from the Yamuna River in 1993, but till date, we get the same amount of water.” 

Mr Satyendar Jain also touched upon the issue of rainfall. He informed, “In India, we receive an average rainfall of about 119-centimeters, which means more than 1-meter of average rainfall. And if we talk about per head, it’s around 7-cubic meters for each person, which means one individual gets around 7000-litres of rainwater per day, every year. We also require a minimum of 150-200 litres of water for house chores per day. If we take into account other activities like agriculture, 7000-litre is not less, yet we talk of scarcity.” Among the solutions, he elaborated on wastewater treatment. “We are using treated water for reuse purposes so that you will get enough water for horticulture. The Incoming 5-10 years Delhi’s water level will come back and will use treated water.” 

Ar. Vijay Garg, Chairman, Delhi State Experts Appraisal Committee, Dept. of Environment, Govt. of NCT of Delhi, informed, “As an initiative of the environment or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) clearance in Delhi, it has been made mandatory for all the projects, basically real estate projects to use only recycled and retreated water. So, all freshwater is banned in Delhi to be used for construction purposes.” He added, “Further, in all the projects what we are trying to put out, whether it is a hospital, or a commercial mall or a hotel, is if we can reuse the water which is produced in your campus for flushing purposes, for the purpose of horticulture, and all such uses. This way, at least 40% of the freshwater demand can be reduced. We are looking at reducing the consumption of portable water to 50% as much as possible.” 

Mr Ajay Popat, Chairman, ASSOCHAM National Council on Water & President, Ion Exchange (India) Ltd spoke about the government’s water reforms and works, which includes sewage systems plans. He said, “From an outsider's perspective, I would like to see how Delhi manages its water better through experiments on ground water recharging, pricing water at different economic levels, treating its sewage and also investing in a public-private partnership to see that the whole sustainability of water is improved.” 

At the same event, Dr. Lalit Khaitan, Chairman, Central Region Development Council, ASSOCHAM & CMD, Radico Khaitan Ltd, in his address, appreciated Delhi's government efforts to improve the water supply system and provide safe drinking water. “The Delhi government has done excellent work of supplying water in all the areas. It has taken many initiatives to mitigate the water crisis in the capital. The first effort was to solve the crisis in the city which has serious water scarcity created due to mismanagement and inequitable distribution of water. In addition, the government encourages the conservation of water resources by those householders who consciously cut their water consumption. Most importantly, it facilitates the provisioning of pipe water to those areas that are currently water-stressed and have no piped water supply,” he said. “While clean water has been a priority for Delhi administration, now it's time to spread education about the significance of safe drinking water and the need to manage its supply system sustainability. I feel it's the moral duty of all individuals and business houses to come forward and support the government in cleaning and adequate water supply,” he added.  

Mr Deepak Sood, Secretary-General, ASSOCHAM appreciated Shri. Arvind Kejriwal, Honorable Chief Minister's commendable work for the people of Delhi. He said, “I would like to applaud the way changes are taking place in Delhi and the things that have been achieved so far. It goes way beyond water and includes healthcare, education, and mohalla (street) clinics among other things.” He added, “Delhi has now become a city of aspiration. People want to come and live here. As you put out your plans for modern Delhi of 2047, I think it’s going to be a global city that people would love to talk about.”