Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta with (right) Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh and Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa at DDA Ground, Nirankari Colony in New Delhi on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday flagged off 1,111 GPS-enabled water tankers from DDA Ground, Burari, and said the initiative would make the Capital’s water supply system more transparent, efficient, and accountable, especially in areas without a piped water network.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), however, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of “spreading misinformation” and “rebranding” initiatives launched by the previous government as new.

Addressing an event marking two months of the government’s formation, Ms. Gupta said the initiative is a transformational digital step as citizens can now track tankers. “All 1,111 tankers will now be monitored 24×7 from a central control room. With advanced GPS tracking, strict action will be taken against the tanker mafia,” the Chief Minister said.

She assured that areas without piped water infrastructure will soon receive drinking water through pipeline systems.

Ms. Gupta also accused the previous AAP government of leaving the city with a “disorganised” water supply system and “overflowing” drains and sewers. “We have increased super sucker machines to clean drains from two to 50,” she said.

‘Old initiative’

Responding to the allegations, AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj said the GPS-enabled water tankers had been “operational since 2015”. “The BJP government is misleading Delhiites and diverting resources for publicity stunts instead of addressing the real issues,” he alleged