NEW DELHI -- The AAP government in Delhi yesterday proposed supply of drinking water to all authorised and unauthorised colonies by 2017 through pipelines and allocated Rs 676 crore for the financial year 2016-17 for this.
"Despite being in the national capital, we have to drink bottled water. Our aim is to provide drinking water through pipelines to all households in authorised or unauthorised colonies by December 2017," Finance Minister Manish Sisodia yesterday said while presenting the annual budget.
The AAP minister said it was the endeavour of the Arvind Kejriwal government to supply clean drinking water to every Delhite and "eradicate the water tanker mafia" from the city.
"300 new unauthorised colonies will be provided piped water supply in the year 2016-17. I have allocated 676 crore for this purpose," he said.
Sisodia said his government had taken a decision earlier to provide 20 kilo litre of water free of cost to every citizen and this budget only emphasises "our commitment towards the people of Delhi."
The Kejriwal government also proposed to partly or fully waive arrears of people in connection with disputed or inflated water bills.
"We have decided to waive 100 per cent arrears for the consumers belonging to 'E', 'F', 'G' & 'H' category colonies, 75 per cent in 'D' category, 50 per cent in 'C' and 25 per cent in 'A' & 'B' categories with complete remission of late payment surcharge," he said.
With regard to water connection, the city government also proposed to reduce the development charge from Rs 440 per sqm to Rs 100 per sqm in unauthorised colonies enrolling and benefiting almost 130,000 consumers.
Sisodia also said the government has "increased 10 per cent of potable water by commissioning three major water treatment plants at Dwarka, Bawana and Okhla which were lying completely idle".
"Also, the Delhi Jal Board will roll out a comprehensive rainwater harvesting scheme, water-bodies revival policy and summer action plan to ensure that Delhi doesn't suffer in any way for want of water," he said.
On sanitation, the Finance Minister said, though the Sewage Master Plan proposes sewage network to all households by 2036, "our government will try to achieve that goal in 10 years".
"I propose Rs 1,976 crore of plan outlay for water supply and sanitation sector, which is 9.6 per cent of total plan outlay," he said.
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