The water deprived areas in Dwarka sub-city in the National Capital can expect improved water supply in the days to come. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has transferred all water services and maintenance of waterlines in Dwarka to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB).

The water needs of Dwarka were being looked after DDA, which is essentially a housing body that lacks adequate infrastructure to meet the area's water requirements.

As per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Friday between the DDA and the DJB, the former will give ` 50 crore for water supply infrastructure to the DJB. The balance amount will be given back to the DDA after the repair and fulfilling of deficiencies by the DJB, the DDA said in a statement. A public notice on the same is being issued by the DDA shortly, it said. The Delhi government has also claimed that water bills in the area will be considerably reduced after the DJB's takeover.

The Dwarka sub-city was planned and set up by the DDA even though the DJB maintained there was no additional water for it. Later, a 50 million gallons daily (MGD) water treatment plant was set up. However, the plant remained unutilised since the last three-four years owing to lack of water supply from the Munak Canal in Haryana.

The DJB, on the other hand, said it would take over the water supply in Dwarka only after the water treatment plant was made fully operational. The plant was inaugurated by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on March 1. The plant supplies water to Sectors 5, 6 and 10 in Dwarka while catering to nearly 10 lakh residents in these areas.

Following an intervention by the Delhi High Court, trial runs were conducted by the DJB and the plant started functioning partially.

