'Tanker mafia not sole reason for water crisis'

Atishi says city's water production capacity has been reduced due to less water in Yamuna river, other bodies

- ANUP VERMA

WITH Delhi reeling under water crisis amid scorching heat and Supreme Court asking the city government to check water wastage and tanker mafia, Delhi Water Minister Atishi on Thursday said a 50 million gallons shortfall in water production is registered every day owing to lack of adequate supply through the Yamuna River and other sources.

While addressing a press conference, Atishi said the average water production in Delhi has fallen considerably from 1,000-1,005 million gallons per day (MGD). "On June 12 it was 951 MGD. It means production has decreased by 50 MGD in Delhi due to shortage of water, leading to scarcity in areas at the tail end of the water pipeline network," she said.

"If tanker mafia is active and say 100-200 tankers are operated, it will be not more than 0.10.5 MGD of water used by them.

Even if the tanker mafia is completely restrained, it will not solve the water crisis in Delhi as it is facing a shortfall of 50 MGD of water," Atishi said.