Tankers fail to reach target group

By Lalit K. Jha (Exclusive)

NEW DELHI, APRIL 27. While there is a virtual scramble for a bucket of water in many colonies of the Capital these days, it is boom time for some local politicians, petty contractors and officials.

The contract for supplying water through tankers in these areas during these months is eagerly awaited by them and needless to say it translates into big money.

What is most shocking is that a large quantity of water does not reach the target group. Instead, it is siphoned off to commercial establishments and industries at a premium. Whereas potable water is supplied to residential areas at less than 50 paise per kilolitre through pipelines, the government as part of its public welfare measure provides free water to the deficient areas through nearly 1,200 tankers costing its exchequer almost a Rs. 50 per kilolitre.

During the summer months the cost of hiring water tankers alone touches Rs. 1.25 crores per month in addition to production cost. Despite the high cost, it is being sold at a premium by contractors in close nexus with officials. As the temperatures soars, so does the cost in the blackmarket.

``There have been innumerable instances when tankers meant for a slum cluster is found inside the premises of a cold drink or ice- cream factory or a hotel,'' said a highly placed DJB official. ``These tankers can be easily spotted in any industrial area. This costly water is never meant for them.''

Though the summer season has just begun, a number of cases have been reported to the DJB by the aggrieved people. Take for instance, the water seemingly being supplied to newly established slums of Narela at least twice a day as per the DJB records. ``It is supplied only once in practice. The rest is being sold to other commercial establishments and industries,'' sources said. The culprits, however, go scot free. Same is the case with the area in the vicinity of Bhatti Mines.

While government records maintain that tankers visit these areas on a regular basis, the fact is that people are purchasing potable water at Rs 10 per bucket.

Highly placed sources in DJB said a majority of the contractors whose tankers are being hired for supplying water to the slum clusters and other deficient areas are mainly close associates of influential politicians.``It does not require any qualification to be a contractor with the DJB for this purpose,'' said an official. ``One requires a mini truck or a tractor trolley mounted with sintex tanks.''

A close scrutiny of the list of hired tankers reveal that among a sizable section of the beneficiaries are relatives, friends, villagers and associates of influential politicians, from at least two major parties. Not to be left behind are some officials of the DJB themselves.

These officials are hand in glove with the contractors. The water supplied through tankers is decentralised and the zonal chief engineer is in-charge in every zone.

Hiring of tankers was started soon after DJB was transferred to Delhi Government from the MCD in 1998. The then Chief Minister had argued that a large part of Delhi did not have access to potable drinking water.

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