The Delhi government is working on a 105 million gallons per day (MGD) water treatment plant at Chandrawal, costing Rs 599 crore and set to be operational by 2026, as announced by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The project, initially approved in 2012, faced significant delays due to past negligence and ineffective execution, leading to a cost increase of nearly Rs 400 crore. The commissioning of the Chandrawal water treatment plant is expected to enhance Delhi’s water supply infrastructure significantly.
The project, which covers about 6.20% of Delhi’s total geographical area, aims to reduce water leakage and technical losses, thereby enhancing water quality and reliability for residents. Additionally, the initiative includes the replacement of water supply and distribution pipelines to households, with a total cost of Rs 1,331 crore. Two out of the three distribution projects have already been awarded, covering areas in nine Assembly constituencies.
The Chandrawal water treatment plant project also involves strengthening underground reservoirs, installing water meters, preventing contamination, and establishing grievance redressal centers. The goal is to decrease non-revenue water from 30-45% to below 15% within three years, with maintenance of the replaced pipelines under a 12-year agreement at an additional cost. The project targets around 11% of Delhi’s population, focusing on improving water supply in densely populated areas facing water availability and pressure issues.
