New Delhi: To accomplish the target for round-the-clock water supply in Lutyens’ Delhi, NDMC has started the process of appointing a consultant to prepare a 25-year water supply master plan. The consultant will do a study of the NDMC area, assess leakage and shortcomings in the pipeline network, examine the condition of the infrastructure and prepare zone-wise networking plans. “These plans will be revisited every five years to incorporate improvements,” an official said. Tenders have been invited, and more than 10 agencies have expressed interest. “Issues raised during the pre-bid meeting will be addressed. We expect to complete the process in the next 21 days. Based on the consultant’s proposals, an expert agency will be hired to execute the plan,” the official added. Thereafter, work will be undertaken in a phased manner, which will eventually eliminate the need for overhead tanks in the NDMC area. With continuous pressurised supply, residents will no longer need to store water. NDMC provides potable water in the morning and evening, which is stored in overhead tanks. Under the proposed system, supply lines will remain pressurised throughout the day. “If motors operate continuously on a supply line, or if the water supplied is significantly higher than previous days, it will trigger immediate verification for possible leakages,” another official explained. Officials estimate that 30–40% of water could be saved by fixing leakages.
