Taking the Capital’s infamous VIP culture and what he described as the “politics of water” being practised by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union Government head on, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday declared that everyone – including himself – would bear the brunt of the water scarcity in the city as and when it occurs during summer.
Seconding him, his deputy Manish Sisodia said that in case of a water scarcity, the Chief Minister and other Ministers would “share the problem” with the people of Delhi.
The Prime Minister's residence, Rashtrapati Bhavan, emergency service providers such as hospitals and various embassies located in the Capital would, however, continue to be exempted from facing the water woes, both the Chief Minister and his deputy acknowledged. Free water supply up to 20,000 litres for every metered household on a monthly basis was among the chief poll pitches of the Aam Aadmi Party before its resounding victory.
In a related statement during his unscheduled address to the Delhi Assembly following a heated debate on the financial condition of the Capital with the miniscule opposition, the Chief Minister also said that his government had what it took to turn the Municipal Corporation of Delhi into a profit generating entity within a year, if given a chance.
“I request the Delhi Jal Board to ensure that if there is scarcity of water in Delhi in the near future, the public alone should not bear the brunt of it,” Mr. Kejriwal said to thumps of approval from the 67 AAP Legislators in the Assembly.
“Lack of water, and the problems that it entails, should not extend only to the poor but all government buildings should face the same water crisis (as the common man); no one – no matter who – should be exempt from bearing the burden,” he added.
