CM Arvind Kejriwal's strict instructions to officers — give sewer connections to every household on a war footing in Delhi
*By June 2023, 100 percent of the houses in North East Delhi and East Delhi will be connected to the sewer network
*Giving sewer connections to every house will radically help in cleaning Yamuna
*One of our priorities is to connect the whole of Delhi with sewer network, so that untreated water does not get discharged into Yamuna: CM Arvind Kejriwal
*Household Sewer Connection Project and Yamuna cleaning project will now be reviewed every 15 days: CM Arvind Kejriwal
*CM Arvind Kejriwal reviews Household Sewer Connection & Yamuna Cleaning Projects; directs officers to expedite progress
NEW DELHI:07.02.23-Living up to his resolve of a clean Yamuna, Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal gave strict instructions to officers on Tuesday to give sewer connections to every household on a war footing in Delhi. Now, by June 2023, 100 percent of the houses in North East Delhi and East Delhi will be connected to the sewer network. Giving direct sewer connections to every house will radically help in cleaning the Yamuna. In this context, the CM said, “One of our priorities is to connect the whole of Delhi with the sewer network, so that untreated water does not get discharged into Yamuna. The Household Sewer Connection Project and Yamuna cleaning project will now be reviewed every 15 days.” The CM has also directed officers to expedite progress on all fronts on these projects.
The Delhi Government has been working on a mission mode to clean the Yamuna and also connect every household with a functional sewer connection. The process of connecting every household to the sewer network will go a long way toward cleaning the river Yamuna. In view of this, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal, a review meeting of the project to provide a sewer connection to every house and clean the Yamuna was held on Tuesday. During the meeting, Shri Arvind Kejriwal reviewed the progress of the project and provided officials with the necessary guidelines.
Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal enquired about the houses that have been connected to the sewer network so far under the ‘Mukhyamantri Muft Sewer Connection Yojana’ and also asked for a status update of those houses which are yet to be connected. The CM also enquired whether the provision of providing sewer connections was proceeding within the allotted time frame. He also reviewed the reasons cited by officials regarding the houses that have not yet been connected to the sewer network. Officials of the Delhi Jal Board informed Shri Arvind Kejriwal that the scheme for providing sewer connections is going on as per the prescribed timeline, and many targets have already been achieved.
Further, officials of the Delhi Jal Board said that Delhi has a total of 1799 unauthorised colonies, in which close to 16,18,080 houses have been marked. Out of these, until now, 3,40,720 houses have already been connected to the sewer network, while work is under progress for the remaining houses. The officials also stated that 747 colonies are already connected to the sewer network. The ‘Mukhyamantri Muft Sewer Connection Yojana’ will provide a sewer connection to 39,550 houses across 667 colonies. Of this, 38,960 houses have already received a sewer connection and the remaining houses will be covered by the next month. In 80 colonies, sewer connection is being provided through project division. Of the 98,665 houses located herein, 46,498 houses have already received a sewer connection. The remaining houses will be covered by September 2023. Laying down of the sewer network is under progress in 573 colonies. Of the 7,77,151 houses across these colonies, 2,46,581 houses have already been connected to the sewer network, and the remaining houses will be connected to the network by December 2023. Under the DSTP, 4,45,000 houses spread across 318 colonies will receive a sewer connection. Every house will receive this connection within 12 months of land being allocated for DSTP. Although there are technical difficulties in connecting 161 colonies to the sewer network, work is under way to eliminate these obstacles. The officials also explained that by December 2023, 9,15,366 houses will be connected to the sewer network and the remaining houses shall be covered within the next one year.
CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal asked DJB officials for a timeline by when the houses in East Delhi that don't yet have a sewer connection be connected to the sewer line. Delhi Jal Board officials replied that the houses in East Delhi would be connected to the sewer network by the end of the next month. By June 2023, 100 percent of the houses in North East Delhi and East Delhi will be connected to the sewer network. DJB officials informed that Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) are not able to treat sewage in some places. As work moves forward, this problem will be solved soon. Apart from this, many slums have narrow lanes where it is challenging to install sewer connections, and along with this, a Discharge of Sewage Treatment Plant (DSTP) is also being installed in some colonies. The slum cluster's sewage will be tapped and transported to the STP, where sewage will be treated and forwarded.
According to officials, expanding the Shahdara drain's capacity is also on the agenda. For this, a new STP will be constructed. So after June 2023, the dirty water, which will not be treated, will be treated by taking it to the new STP, but it will take some time. After June 2024, however, there won't be any more contaminated water in the Shahdara drain.
While reviewing the Yamuna Cleaning Project, Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal asked about the progress of the STP and other related projects from the officials. The officials informed the Chief Minister that the dirty water from small drains was being intercepted and diverted to the STP. Water from the colonies that are covered under the sewer connections will be treated at their nearby STP. The officials further informed the Chief Minister that new STPs are being built, and existing STPs are currently having their capacity upgraded, with the command area for them nearby. The officials further informed that the water quality of the water treated by the old STPs was in the ratio of 20:30 in certain places, whereas it was 20:50 in other sites. After upgradation, all these STPs would treat water with a quality ratio of 10:10. Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal said that joining the entirety of Delhi to the sewer network is our priority so that no untreated water flows into the Yamuna, and the Yamuna can be cleaned as soon as possible. Shri Arvind Kejriwal further said that sewer connections to each house, the Yamuna cleaning project, and the project for access to clean water would be reviewed every 15 days.
Sharing information about the meeting, the CM Office tweeted, “CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal held a review meeting on Yamuna's cleaning and revival and the connection of sewers to every home. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Environment Minister Gopal Rai, DJB Vice President Saurabh Bhardwaj, Chief Secretary and all senior officers were present in the review meeting.”
*CM Arvind Kejriwal takes stock of Yamuna cleaning plan*
During the meeting, Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal also reviewed the status of sewerage infrastructure in context of the Yamuna cleaning project. For ensuring 100% treatment of sewage in Delhi, the government has identified 4 Focus Areas for Enhancing Sewage Treatment Capacity. These include Construction of 3 New STPs at Okhla, Delhi Gate & Sonia Vihar, Construction of 40 New DSTPs, Rehabilitation of 3 existing STPs and Upgradation and increasing capacity of 18 existing STPs.
*Progress in Construction of 3 new STPs*
Of the 3 new STPs being constructed in Delhi, the 30 MGD Okhla STP shall be completed by June 2023, the 7 MGD Sonia Vihar STP shall be completed by September 2023, whereas for the 10 MGD Delhi Gate MGD, the concerned departments are awaiting land allotment by DDA.
*Construction of 40 New DSTPs*
The 40 new DSTPs of Delhi will add a capacity of 92 MGD to the sewage infrastructure. Of these, 29 DSTPs will be ready by December 2023
*Progress in Rehabilitation of existing 3 STPs*
Through Rehabilitation of 3 STPs, the Delhi Government will add a capacity of 70 MGD to its network. The 25MGD Phase-2 of the Kondli will be ready by June 2023, the 40MGD Rithala STP will also be ready by June 2023, while the 5MGD Phase-2 of the Yamuna Vihar MGD will be ready by September 2023.
*Upgradation of Existing 18 Sewage Treatment Plants*
The Upgradation of Existing 18 Sewage Treatment Plants will add a capacity of 93.5 MGD to the network. Under this, 1 STP will be upgraded by March 2023, 1 by October 2023, 9 by December 2023, 4 by January 2024, and March 2024. The STPs under upgradation: Pappan Kalan Phase - I, Nilothi Phase -II, Najafgarh, Keshopur Phase -II, Keshopur Phase-III, Rohini Sector 25, Narela, Coronation Pillar Phase-I & II, Coronation Pillar Phase-III, Yamuna Vihar Phase – I, Yamuna Vihar Phase – III, Okhla Phase- V, Mehrauli, Ghitorni, Vasant Kunj, Kondli Phase-IV, Keshopur Phase-I and Rithala Phase-II.
*Drain Tapping also on track*
The Delhi Government is also rapidly working on tapping of drains across Delhi. This project includes tapping of major drains like the Barapullah Drain, Maharani Bagh Drain and the Mori Gate drain as well as tapping of 76 sub-drains that fall into the Najafgarh, Shahdara and Supplementary Drains. With the trapping of Barapullah Drain, Maharani Bagh Drain and the Mori Gate drain a total of 48.14 MGD of sewage will be treated as per latest standards. 242 MGD of sewage will be treated by tapping the 76 sub-drains.
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*CM Arvind Kejriwal writes to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking regularisation of 4500 NDMC employees
*Necessary instructions should be issued for speedy approval for Recruitment Rules of Group ‘C’ posts, so that around 4500 RMR employees can be regularised in NDMC: CM Arvind Kejriwal
*The proposal for speedy approval for Recruitment Rules of Group ‘C’ posts has been sent several times, yet the demand for regularisation of employees has not yet been met by the Centre: CM Arvind Kejriwal
*It has become difficult for non-permanent employees to run their household on a meagre salary, and therefore for the sake of humanity these employees should be made permanent: CM Arvind Kejriwal
NEW DELHI: 7TH FEBRUARY 2023-Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah urging his department to regularise around 4500 employees of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC). The Delhi CM also urged the Union Home Ministry to approve the Recruitment Rules of Group ‘C’ posts in NDMC for grant of permanent employee status to Regular Muster Roll (RMR) employees of NDMC. Shri Arvind Kejriwal also pointed out that the proposal for approval of draft Recruitment Rules of Group ‘C’ posts in NDMC had been sent to the MHA vide letter dated 25.09.2020 after approval from NDMC Council in its meeting on 4th August 2020. He reminded Shri Amit Shah that the NDMC had also written a letter to the Union Home Ministry dated 23.05.2022 and answered the queries raised by the department on this matter. He also said that the NDMC wrote another letter as a reminder on 23.11.2022, but so far no action has been taken by the Union Home Ministry on the matter. In his letter the CM stated, “Necessary instructions should be issued for speedy approval for Recruitment Rules of Group ‘C’ posts, so that around 4500 RMR employees can be regularised in NDMC. The proposal for speedy approval for Recruitment Rules of Group ‘C’ posts has been sent several times, yet the demand for regularisation of employees has not yet been met by the Centre. It has become difficult for non-permanent employees to run their household on a meagre salary, and therefore for the sake of humanity these employees should be made permanent.”
Shri Arvind Kejriwal wrote, “I would like to draw your kind attention to my previous letter dated 22.03.22, in which I had said that necessary instructions should be issued for early approval for Recruitment Rules of Group ‘C’ posts, so that around 4500 employees can be regularised in NDMC.”
He added, “There are around 4500 employees in NDMC who are presently working as Regular Muster Roll (RMR) and are waiting to become regular employees of NDMC. The proposal for approval of draft Recruitment Rules of Group ‘C’ posts in NDMC had been sent to MHA vide letter dated 25.09.2020 after approval of the Council in its meeting on 4th August 2020 (Annexure-1) and subsequently revised proposal was sent vide letter dated 16.04.2021 (Annexure-11). These RMRs are waiting for many years for their regularisation against the existing vacancies in NDMC in the erstwhile group 'D' (now upgraded to Group 'C' posts). In this regard, various communications/replies sent to MHA are being enclosed for ready references (Annexure-III).”
He continued, “These employees have devoted a number of years as TMR & RMR in NDMC and are suffering for long for want of regularisation as regular employees of NDMC. I would also like to bring to your attention that NDMC had also written a letter to the Union Home Ministry dated 23.05.2022 and answered the queries raised by the department on this matter. He also said that the NDMC wrote another letter as a reminder on 23.11.2022, but so far no action has been taken by the Union Home Ministry on the matter.”
He concluded, “This is an issue that concerns people who have spent 20-25 years of their lives working in the NDMC. A lot of these people come from poor families and because they are non-permanent employees, it becomes difficult for many of them to support their families. Therefore I would humbly like to request the Union Home Ministry to expedite the process of formalisation of these employees. A similar kind of exercise has been done in the past and therefore there should be no procedural problem in doing this for these valuable employees of the NDMC. The NDMC at the moment is also facing a shortage of employees and this has affected its daily functions. The regularisation of these employees will also go a long way in solving this issue.”
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*“No time for pendency, maximise water-resources at all costs,” CM Arvind Kejriwal pulls up officials over laxity in water-augmentation project
*We have resolved to provide water to every single household, we must not leave any stone unturned in this process: CM Arvind Kejriwal
*CM Arvind Kejriwal directs DJB to increase Delhi’s water production capacity from 990 MGD to 1,110 MGD immediately
*Given the situation, Delhi must augment groundwater, DJB should explore possibility of developing a tube-well network all over Delhi: CM Arvind Kejriwal
*Many areas of Delhi including floodplains have high water-tables, we can start extracting groundwater to supply to our citizens from there: CM Arvind Kejriwal
*CM Arvind Kejriwal directs DJB to explore possibility of last-mile water connections on the lines of last-mile sewer connections
*It is concerning that government’s efforts aren’t reaching the citizens: CM Arvind Kejriwal
*CM Arvind Kejriwal takes stock of Water-Augmentation & Household Water Connection Projects; directs officers to increase water production capacity on mission mode
NEW DELHI:-07.02.23-Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal pulled up officials on Tuesday for causing laxity in the government’s ambitious water-augmentation project. The CM was reviewing the said project along with the Household Water Connection Project in a high-level meeting where he noticed a huge shortfall on part of the officials. Taking a strict view on the matter, the CM directed all officers to increase the state’s water production capacity from 990 MGD to 1,110 MGD on a mission mode. Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, “It is concerning that the government’s efforts aren’t reaching the citizens. We have resolved to provide water to every single household, we must not leave any stone unturned in this process. Given the situation, Delhi must augment groundwater, DJB should explore the possibility of developing a tube-well network all over Delhi. Many areas of Delhi including floodplains have high water-tables, we can start extracting groundwater to supply to our citizens from there.”
The CM also directed the DJB to explore the possibility of last-mile water connections on the lines of last-mile sewer connections, and review exorbitant connection charges. Dy CM Shri Manish Sisodia, Environment Minister Shri Gopal Rai, DJB Vice Chairperson Shri Saurabh Bhardwaj and concerned officials were also present in the meeting.
*CM reviews Water-Augmentation project, directs officers to maximise resources, increase production capacity*
Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal chaired a high-level review meeting to take stock of Delhi Jal Board’s water supply measures in the state. While reviewing the overview of the project, the Chief Minister noted that the present demand as per the population of Delhi has risen up to 1260 MGD. But, the Delhi Jal Board supplies 990 MGD including 864 surface water and 126 MGD groundwater to the residents of the state. Taking a serious view on the shortfall, the CM questioned the officials asking what caused such a delay. “So far under the plan, the water supply capacity was supposed to reach 1,110 MGD. It is concerning that despite all efforts from the government’s end our efforts are not reaching the ground. This is not the time for administering delays. Water is a matter of great sensitivity for Delhi. If we have resolved to provide water to every single household, we must not leave any stone unturned in this process. There is no room for pendencies now. We have to work on water augmentation on priority.”
Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, “Given the current situation, it is safe to say that Delhi will need to augment its ground water resources actively to ensure water reaches every household. There are numerous areas in Delhi which have a very high water table. A lot of such land is under the Delhi Government. We should now work on a system where we have a network of 500 tube wells with recharging infrastructure in the capital itself. On an average we are extracting 0.1-0.2MGD water from a tubewell at present. We just have to look at the water table and identify whether there is land available for extracting water from there. This will greatly aid the cause of supplying water to every household.”
While reviewing the Water Augmentation Plan, the CM noted that the DJB is working on Setting up Decentralised Ammonia Removal Treatment Plants in East Delhi for utilising existing Ranney Wells between Wazirabad to Okhla and Rehabilitation of 6 MGD ammonia removal WTP at Okhla with ground water sourced from the reach between Wazirabad to Okhla. Both these projects aim to supply 5 and 6 MGD of water to the residents. Observing that the project is being developed on the floodplains of Delhi the CM said, “The floodplains of Delhi see almost an excess of water levels. We have often encountered complaints from residents of East Delhi that water seeps into their basements because of the floodplains. So we should not limit these projects to their existing capacity. Let us also explore whether the supply can be augmented to 50 MGD from here. There is no dearth of water, and we have also figured out a way to purify it so we must not let go of this opportunity.”
The CM further noted that the government is developing a Water Recycling Plant at Bawana and Discharge of good quality treated water from Coronation Pillar STP at Palla & its lifting at Wazirabad. Noticing a delay in tender in the latter, the CM asked officials to clear the pendency immediately and ensure the project gets tendered by the end of the month. Notably, through the said project, the government aims to discharge high-quality treated water into the Yamuna at Palla and then pick up the water mixed with river water at Wazirabad to re-treat it as per the highest standards and supply it to homes of residents.
The CM further took stock of the tubewell project being run by the government. Under the project, 51 tube wells have been installed and commissioned at Sonia Vihar, 30 Tube wells have been commissioned at Palla, 30 tube wells have been bored and commissioned for augmenting drinking water at Bhagirathi, 3 tube wells have been bored and commissioned for augmenting raw water at Sangam, 6 tube wells have been bored and commissioned for augmenting drinking water at Burari, 6 tube wells have been bored and commissioned for augmenting raw water under the P-V Series, and 15 tube wells have been bored, with 4 commissioned for augmenting drinking water at Nangloi. These 134 tube wells are yielding 30.5 MGD water.
In addition to this, 117 tubewells are to be developed at Palla, 100 at Bhalswa Lake, 7 at Akshardham, 8 at Noida More, 4 at Mundka, 14 at the P-V series, 15 around the Bawana WTP, 7 at Okhla, and 3 at Dichaon. While reviewing the ongoing projects, the CM observed that the progress at Palla and Bawana was not up to the mark. He asked the officers to present an outline of works taken up at the sites in the last one year, asking them to explain what caused such delays. The officials cited an unavailability of feasible land at the site as the reason behind the delay. Upon which the CM instructed them to use government land for the purpose including the land held by various departments and agencies like the DJB & DUSIB around these sites. A timeline of 4 months has been set to complete this project.
*CM directs DJB to explore possibility of last-mile water connections*
While reviewing the household water connection project, the CM directed the DJB to explore the possibility of providing last-mile water connections like the government’s policy of providing last mile sewer connections. The CM said, “Like the DJB provides last mile connectivity in the last of sewer connections, it can do so in the case of water too. The Board can call for a meeting over this and explore its possibility. In my opinion, such a system will greatly benefit both the DJB and the citizens. The cost of connections can be borne in the project cost itself. We can even waive off connection charges for the residents. The board will have to closely study this and assess the feasibility.”
Sharing information about the meeting, the CM Office tweeted, “CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal held a review meeting on ground water recharge and water connection to all houses. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Environment Minister Gopal Rai, DJB Vice President Saurabh Bhardwaj, Chief Secretary and all senior officers were present in the review meeting."
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*LG stalled appointment of principals by bypassing the education minister: Dy CM Manish Sisodia
*LG lying by claiming delay on part of government; he has directed education department officials to report to him and not the minister: Dy CM Manish Sisodia
*LG is just misleading the people of Delhi by falsely appropriating the credit for revival of 126 posts while putting the remaining 244 posts on the back burner: Dy CM Manish Sisodia
*Schools exist in reality and are functioning every day; why should a study decide whether a school needs a principal or not?: Dy CM Manish Sisodia
*LG claims that he approved the abolition of 244 posts based on the proposal of the Education Department; Can he confirm if the file was routed to him through the Education Minister?: Dy CM Manish Sisodia
*LG should stop taking credit, instead he should approve the appointment of 244 principals immediately: Dy CM Manish Sisodia
NEW DELHI:07.02.23-Deputy Chief Minister Shri Manish Sisodia issued a fresh rebuttal upon the LG’s remarks over the appointment of principals in government schools, on Tuesday. He said, “The LG has stalled the appointment of principals by bypassing the education minister. LG is lying by claiming delay on part of the government; he has directed education department officials to report to him and not the minister. LG is just misleading the people of Delhi by falsely appropriating the credit for revival of 126 posts while putting the remaining 244 posts on the back burner. Schools exist in reality and are functioning every day; why should a study decide whether a school needs a principal or not? LG claims that he approved the abolition of 244 posts based on the proposal of the Education Department; Can he confirm if the file was routed to him through the Education Minister. LG should stop taking credit, instead he should approve the appointment of 244 principals immediately.”
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Manish Sisodia issued a statement on Tuesday exposing the Delhi LG’s repeated lies over the appointment of principals in government schools. The Delhi LG had recently issued a statement making contradictory claims about his move to delay the appointment of 244 principals under the garb of approval of 126 posts. This is the second such statement issued by the LG which was completely bereft of the facts of the matter. Earlier this week, on February 4 and 5, Shri Manish Sisodia had issued his response to the LG’s claims and had asked him to not play politics over the issue and instead explain why he has been delaying such crucial appointments.
*Dy CM Manish Sisodia's response to the statement issued by the Delhi LG*
The LG has again issued a false and misleading statement with respect to appointment of School Principals.
The fact is that the School Principals posts are vacant and the schools are running without Principals. On the Directions of the LG, the files with respect to appointments of school principals are not shown to the Education Minister. The non appointment of Principals is a failure of LG’s functioning. If the LG becomes in-charge of the Service department and takes all decisions bypassing the Education Minister then who is responsible for the failure? Why were these 244 posts not filled in time? Who is responsible for the failure that School Principal posts were vacant for more than 5 years?
It is the LG who has stalled the appointments of Principals bypassing the Education Minister. And now again the files were submitted to the LG bypassing the Education Minister under instructions from the LG.
The posts of Principals in these 244 schools need to be filled urgently. The schools exist in reality and there are students studying in these schools. I request that there is no need to study the need when these schools are already functioning. It just needs a decision from the LG that all these posts need to be fulfilled immediately without any study of need for these posts.
The LG claims that he approved the abolition of 244 posts based on the proposal of the Education Department. Can he confirm if the file was routed to him through the Education Minister? Has he not directed the officials to directly put up the file to him bypassing the Minister on matters related to service?
In a nutshell, the LG is just misleading the people of Delhi by falsely appropriating the credit for revival of 126 posts while putting the remaining 244 posts on the back burner.