700 ltrs of free water in Delhi

Kejriwal keeps a major promise; power next

• However, if consumption exceeds 20 KL water a month, charges applicable
• Uncertainty over unauthorised colonies sans metered connections
• AAP Govt is also likely to slash power tariff by 50%

It was so important to attend office today. We had planned the water announcement. God, bahut galat time par bimaar kiya (have fallen ill at the wrong time.) It is wrongly being said that our decision is for 3 months. Decision is for good. But obviously financial calculations r for balance FY@ArvindKejriwal

Ghaziabad : Fulfilling its poll promise, the Aam Aadmi Party government on Monday announced 667 litres of free water daily for each household having metered connection in Delhi.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Delhi Jal Board chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence here in Kausambi.

On Monday, his third day as Delhi chief minister, he announced the supply of 20 kilolitres a month (almost 700 litres a day) of free water for Delhi households from January 1, 2014.

He was unwell and had to skip office, but chaired a meeting of the Delhi Jal Board at his apartment in Ghaziabad. "All the domestic consumers having metered connection will get 20 kilolitres of water free of cost from January 1. We will not even levy any existing charges such as water cess and sewerage charge," newly-appointed Delhi Jal Board CEO Vijay Kumar told reporters.

He, however, said if the consumption limit crosses 20 kilolitres, then the consumer would have to pay for the water and other charges.

Kumar was appointed CEO of DJB on Saturday evening in place of Debashree Mukherjee who is understood to have reservation over supplying water free of cost.

In its election manifesto, the Aam Admi Party had announced that 700 litres of free water will be supplied daily to each household if it comes to power. Last month, Delhi Jal Board had planned to increase the water tariff by 10 per cent from January to improve its finances.

It is not immediately clear whether government will charge for water being supplied to over 1,600 unauthorised colonies across the city as in most households in these settlements water metres are yet to be installed.

The government is also likely to make announcements in cutting electricity tariff. The AAP had promised to slash the tariff by 50 per cent.

CM announces Rs 1-cr ex gratia for slain cop

New Delhi: In one of the highest such compensations, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday granted Rs 1 crore financial assistance to the family of a Delhi Police constable who was allegedly beaten to death by suspected liquor mafia in Ghitorni area of South Delhi last week. In a letter to Sabita, wife of deceased Vinod Kumar, Kejriwal said the government will provide all possible help to the family besides the compensation. 48-year-old Kumar was beaten to death by the assailants when he accompanied a team of excise department officials during a raid in Ghitorni on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. Kumar was on deputation with the Excise Department of Delhi government.