CM sets in operation Sonia Vihar Plant to mitigate Water shortage

New Delhi, May 22 (UNI) Water shortage in Delhi is all set to be mitigated with the operationalisation today of the Sonia Vihar Water Treatment Plant by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, after Uttar Pradesh released the much-awaited water to the plant last night.

In what can be seen as a major step to meet shortfall of drinking water in Delhi, specially in areas of South and East Delhi, the Chief Minister formally set into operation the Sonia Vihar Water Treatment Plant, catering to the water requirements of 3.5 million people in the capital.

In the presence of a host of dignitaries including Delhi Health Minister Yoganand Shashtri, Congress MP from East Delhi Sandeep Dikshit, the Chief Executive officer of the Delhi Jal Board Arun Mathur and former DJB CEO C K Tripathi, Mrs Dikshit ushered in the 70 cusecs of water, released to the plant by Uttar Pradesh from Muradnagar last night, by opening the inlet gates leading to the plant.

''About 70 cusecs of raw water was released by Uttar Pradesh to the Sonia Vihar Plant last night. Today, the fleshing of the raw water (cleansing of the raw water to deliver it in potable state to the people) has begun, which will, by July, quench the thirst of people residing in several areas in South Delhi and East Delhi,'' the Chief Minister told reporters here.

Completed in 2004 at a cost of Rs 750 crore, the Sonia Vihar Plant, with a total capacity of treating 140 Million gallons per day, was constructed with the aim of meeting the acute shortage of water in Delhi, whose present water supply of 670 MGD is far short of the total requirement of 900 MGD.

The release of 70 cusecs of raw water to the Sonia Vihar plant by Uttar Pradesh is part of its agreement with the Delhi Government wherein UP is to supply 300 cusecs of raw water supply to the plant on a continuing basis, to meet the drinking water requirements of Delhi.

Despite the agreement between Delhi government and the UP Flood and Irrigation department for supply of 300 cusecs of water daily to the plant from the Tehri reservoir in Uttaranchal, the UP government has been dithering on the issue despite pleas by the Delhi government.

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