New Delhi, March 31 Amid increasing demand for water connections in the city, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) plans to increase the number of borewells by more than 400 this year.
The number of water connections has increased in the previous year and is expected to further increase, and the DJB is making infrastructure enhancements to meet this demand, officials said.
According to the summer action plan, the DJB plans to increase its total number of borewells from 5,834 in the previous year to 6,290, an increase of 456, which will increase groundwater extraction by 10 million gallons per day (MGD).
This move is in response to the steady rise in water demand across Delhi, driven by an increase in the total number of water connections. Data from the latest economic survey indicates that connections rose from 28.35 lakh in 2023-24 to 28.99 lakh in 2024-25, reflecting an increase of nearly 64,000 households.
"Furthermore, the government is also exploring the installation of borewells in the area adjacent to Najafgarh Lake for water extraction, subject to environmental approvals," an official said.
Currently, about 93.5 per cent of households in Delhi have access to piped water supply. Water production during the summer season is targeted to be around 1002 MGD this year, an official added.
Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh has said that despite limited water sources, the DJB is working to meet the city's needs. In the previous summer action plan, the target was 1000 MGD.
"To supplement water availability in water-deficient areas, additional borewells will also be commissioned before summer, resulting in 6290 number of borewells," a DJB official added.
The main areas where the DJB is planning to install borewells include 11 in Pappankalan, 44 in Bhalswa, 15 in Yamuna Vihar, 26 in the Sanjay Lake area, 20 in Smriti Van, 12 in Kakrola, 20 in South Burari, 11 in Jaitpur, 37 in Garhi Mandu, 25 in Kalindi Aviral near DND and 20 in Jagatpur biodiversity park. In addition, 200 in the Palla area of the Yamuna River floodplain.