NEW DELHI: Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, who is also the chairman of Delhi Jal Board, inaugurated the work on laying of water pipeline in 13 unauthorised colonies in South Delhi’s Deoli on Sunday. The total cost of the project is Rs 14.4 crore and it would take 12 months to complete.
The CM assured people that regularisation of ‘kacchi’ colonies would soon become a reality. Once the Deoli project is complete, filtered drinking water to these colonies would be supplied. The underground reservoir near ESI hospital, Okhla will be used for supplying the water.
Kejriwal reminded residents that two months ago they had asked him to get rid of the tanker mafia. “I have arrived here to fulfill my promise. Now the water pipeline work is starting and ‘ganga jal’ will start coming to your homes. Though it is a 12 month project, we will try to finish it in 5-6 months,” he claimed.
He accused the previous BJP and Congress governments of using these colonies as votebanks while depriving them of even basic services. “You came to Delhi 30 years ago, leaving your villages, in search of employment. You settled down in kacchi colonies as the rents were too high elsewhere. Congress ruled the state for 15 years while BJP was also in power for many years. In four years, if we can bring water to your homes, why couldn’t they do it in 30 years?” Kejriwal said.
Kejriwal said both parties made promises before every election, but failed to deliver. “Why? They never considered you as one of their own. They considered you as outsiders,” he said. “You made a common man like me sit on a big seat and now we are working day and night for you. Soon your colonies will be regularised.”
The CM said that re-registrations would soon start in unauthorised colonies. The residents of these colonies “will become Delhi wallahs and not outsiders”.