Atishi Appeals to L-G Over 'Water Crisis', Calls for Dismissal of Delhi Jal Board CEO Following Woman's Death in Scuffle

In light of a tragic incident in East Delhi, where a woman died during a dispute allegedly due to a water supply shortage, Atishi, an AAP leader and Delhi minister, called on Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Sunday to immediately suspend the CEO of the Delhi Jal Board within 24 hours, attributing the incident to his 'criminal negligence'. 

Atishi also urged L-G Saxena to address the water supply issues in the national capital. In a letter dated April 14, Atishi detailed a distressing event in the Farsh Bazar/Bhikam Singh Colony area of East Delhi, where a water supply shortage led to violence, culminating in the death of a woman. She mentioned that despite clear directions and a roadmap provided by the Chief Minister for improving Delhi's water supply over the past year, and her own repeated instructions to the CEO of the Delhi Jal Board and the Chief Secretary over the last six months to augment water supply, no action has been taken to avert the 'water crisis' in the city.

She claimed that despite numerous reminders sent to the CEO of DJB and the Chief Secretary over the past few weeks to augment the city's water supply through the installation of tube wells and water tankers, no action has been taken. She expressed her frustration at the CEO of DJB's refusal to provide her with any information regarding the water supply situation in Delhi, citing the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct.

Atishi stated that the 'callous inaction' of the officers of the Delhi Jal Board, which resulted in the woman's death during the scuffle over 'water shortage', amounts to criminal negligence and cannot be overlooked. She called for immediate and exemplary action against the highest-ranking officers of DJB.

She further alleged that in addition to the inaction by the officers of the Delhi Jal Board, there has also been a "concerted conspiracy to halt the funds of the Delhi Jal Board in the FY 2023-24". She added that the Finance Department's failure to release funds has brought DJB to a standstill for the last 8-10 months.

She emphasized that it is incumbent on the L-G to take immediate action against the officers responsible for the water shortage that led to the loss of life in East Delhi.

Earlier, a 15-year-old girl was apprehended by Delhi police after she allegedly stabbed a woman during a dispute over a water supply issue in Shahdara’s Farsh Bazar in the national capital.