New Delhi: The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has initiated a process to develop a 25-year water supply master plan for Lutyens’ Delhi. For this purpose, the civic body will undertake a comprehensive study of the water supply network in the area.
NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Chahal said that the new master plan will focus on upgrading the water supply system of the area and expanding the 24×7 water supply model.
Addressing the Unique Challenges of Lutyens’ Delhi
As per the senior officials of NDMC, the Lutyens’ Delhi area faces unique water supply challenges as it hosts several important national institutions, offices, and hotels. An NDMC report informs that the 42.7 sq. km. area has a resident population of 0.25 million and a much larger floating population of around 1.6-2.0 million per day.
While the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) supplies water to most parts of the city, NDMC serves as the water utility for the Lutyens’ Delhi area. However, NDMC sources its raw water from DJB. According to an NDMC official, the current water demand in the NDMC area stands at approximately 148 million litres per day (MLD), while the average supply from DJB is around 125 MLD, indicating a shortfall.
Given that Delhi as a whole faces a significant water deficit—with a demand-supply gap of nearly 250 million gallons per day (MGD)—the impact of this shortage is particularly noticeable during peak summer months, even in central zones like Lutyens’ Delhi.
Smart Water Meters Roll Out
Earlier this month, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) approved a proposal to invest approximately Rs 31 crore in converting all existing water meters to smart meters. This includes the replacement of 5,397 defective mechanical meters. According to an official, the new smart meters will feature advanced metering capabilities, will be highly waterproof and magnetically sealed, will have no moving parts, and can accurately measure both low and high water flow.
Currently, NDMC oversees the operation of around 24 underground reservoirs, each with a depth of 10–12 feet, located at key sites such as North Avenue, Mandir Marg, Shivaji Stadium, Moti Bagh, Jor Bagh, and Vinay Marg, among others.
