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NEW DELHI: A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has highlighted major deficiencies in the functioning of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), citing persistent water shortages, high distribution losses, inadequate sewerage infrastructure, and weak financial management during the tenure of the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi.
The report, tabled in the Delhi Legislature earlier this week, evaluates DJB’s service delivery and resource management during the AAP government’s tenure, at a time when concerns over water supply and sanitation in the national capital continue to mount.
According to the audit, during AAP rule the gap between water demand and supply steadily widened. The shortage of raw water increased from 22% in 2017-18 to 24% in 2021-22, while the deficit in potable water rose from 24.2% to 25.79% over the same period. The reasons cited include inadequate raw water sources, limited treatment capacity, and failure to augment supply. The report also flagged the absence of flow meters at key points such as water treatment plants, reservoirs, and borewells, making it difficult to accurately track water production and distribution. In addition, water quality testing was not carried out in accordance with prescribed BIS standards.
The audit further points to inefficiencies in the distribution network, with transmission losses rising from 16% to 21% between 2017 and 2022. Water supply remains uneven across the city, with per capita availability dropping below 20 gallons per capita per day (GPCD) in four zones and below 40 GPCD in eight zones—well below the required benchmark of 60 GPCD. Non-Revenue Water (NRW), which includes losses due to leakages, theft, and metering inefficiencies, remained significantly high at 51-53%, leading to an estimated revenue loss of Rs 4,981 crore.
On sewerage management, the report notes the absence of reliable data on water consumption and sewage generation, hampering efforts to address pollution in the Yamuna. Of the 594 million gallons per day (MGD) of sewage generated, 545 MGD was treated by 35 sewage treatment plants. However, 212.59 MGD from 1,080 unauthorised colonies continued to be discharged untreated into stormwater drains. The audit also found that treated effluent from 25 STPs released into the Yamuna did not meet prescribed pollution norms, and there was no system in place to monitor faecal coliform levels.
The CAG also identified shortcomings in the planning and execution of key infrastructure projects of DJB during the previous AAP tenure.
Delays in the rehabilitation of the Chandrawal water treatment plant and its command area were attributed to poor project conceptualization.
The report further noted that the Asian Development Bank withdrew funding worth Rs 2,243 crore for the Wazirabad project due to implementation issues. Instances of irregularities in tendering and execution, including violations of CPWD norms, were also observed.
DJB’s financial management was described as “dismal” in the report. Accounts were finalised only up to 2021-22, and auditors noted that they did not present a “true and fair” view of the Board’s financial position.
Revenue collections consistently fell short of targets by 11.28% to 41.71%, with deficits being met through deposits and unspent capital funds. As of March 2022, the Board’s total outstanding liabilities stood at Rs 66,895 crore. Billing inefficiencies were also flagged—only 40% of potable water produced was billed, and just 66% of this billing was based on actual meter readings.
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