The Delhi Jal Board (DJB), in a recent board meeting chaired by Water Minister Parvesh Verma, approved a series of long-pending infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing water supply and sewerage services across Delhi. These developments are expected to benefit lakhs of residents by fast-tracking essential public utility services.
One major reform allows DJB to directly execute water and sewerage schemes for the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and other land development agencies. This reverses a 2019 policy requiring full board approval for such projects—restoring authority to the Chief Engineer (Planning) level, thereby cutting delays. Among the stalled initiatives were the water supply for DDA’s low-income housing in Narela and in-situ rehabilitation work in Katputli Colony near Shadipur Depot. The policy shift is expected to eliminate board-level bottlenecks and expedite execution.
The board also revived the Delhi Water Supply Improvement Project in the Wazirabad Water Treatment Plant command area. Initially sanctioned under Asian Development Bank (ADB) funding in 2013, the Rs project was stalled in 2020. With ADB recommitting support, it will now cover 123 sq km and benefit about 30 lakh residents.