DJB looks to recycling to tackle water shortage

New Delhi: The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) on Wednesday entered into an agreement with two companies from Singapore for technical support and implementation of the programme to meet the growing demand of water in New Delhi.

"Delhi Jal Board signed an agreement with Singapore Cooperation Enterprise and Temasek Foundation for a new programme designed to share Singapore's experience in recycle and reuse of treated sewage and wastewater," a DJB official said.

DJB CEO Debashree Mukherjee and her counterpart in Singapore Cooperation Enterprise Alphonsus Chia signed the pact on behalf of their respective organisations in presence of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who is also chairperson of DJB, Jonathon Tow, Acting High Commissioner of Singapore, was also present on the occasion.

DJB officials said the agency will set up facilities to augment recycle of treated water as there has been an ever-increasing pressure on existing water resources.

Speaking on the occasion, Dikshit, praised the initiative in finding an alternate solution to overcome the challenge of growing water scarcity in Delhi.

"We have to adopt the mantra of the three 'R' which is reduce, recycle and reuse of our scarce natural resources," she said.

DJB officials said the agency will set up facilities to augment recycle of treated water as there has been an ever-increasing pressure on existing water resources.

"With the population projected to grow to 23 million by 2021, the water scarcity scenario remains a real concern," they said.

Mukherjee said Singapore and Delhi have much in common in the water sector and re-use of water will help meet the growing needs of the city.

The programme will be supported by Temasek Foundation with a grant of Rs 2.04 crore.

(With additional inputs from PTI)

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