Delhi Chief Minister on Tuesday said that the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) planned to rejuvenate 200 water bodies in the national capital and would adopt Singaporean model for water treatment. He claimed that the government was taking a slew of steps to improve water availability by 15-20 per cent in two years.

After inspecting Coronation Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Burari, Kejriwal, while addressing a press conference, announced a slew of measures being taken to augment water supply in Delhi.

“DJB has planned to rejuvenate 200 water bodies in Delhi. Landscaping around the water bodies is also planned. The water will percolate to the ground, it will improve the ground water levels in the vicinity which can be extracted and used for various purpose,” Kejriwal said.

The Chief Minister said the DJB was rolling out several projects to increase water availability by 15-20 per cent in two years and 50 per cent in five years. Kejriwal said that Delhi would adopt Singapore model for water treatment to augment water supply in the national capital.

Under the model, water from STP treated to high quality level will be taken to Palla and released in Yamuna channel. Water will then flow and travel up to Wazirabad.

“Water will be collected at Wazirabad and treated further at treatment plant there. After that potable water will be supplied to households,” Kejriwal said.

According to an official statement, by June 2019 pipeline and pumping station will be ready and then treated water will start going to Palla from where it will go to Wazirabad through Yamuna Channel.

Among the other measures announced by Kejriwal to augment water supply was a new WTP proposed at Dwarka. It is expected to be completed by February 2020. The measures also include hiring of consultants for recycle and reuse of treated water generated at 36-STPs.

“Consultant has been hired to chalk out plan for recycling & reuse of water from the other 36 STPs in Delhi on the lines of the recycling of the treated water from Coronation and Rithala STPs. This once done will produce at-least 200 MGD of additional water. Currently the water from these STPs goes in river Yamuna,” Kejriwal said.

On conserving Yamuna water during rainy season, Kejriwal said consultant had been hired to chalk out a plan to conserve the water in Yamuna during monsoon. He said the water level goes up by more than 10 times and the consultant will submit a methodology to conserve the additional water during rains.