Aaj Tak's 'Operation Tanker Mafia' has put both government and administration on high alert. Post exposure of corruption, claims of stringent action are made against the mafias. Meanwhile, Delhi Police has also stepped into action, increasing surveillance along the Munak Canal. Police teams are patrolling the area on bikes regularly.
Aaj Tak/India Today's sting operation has captured the tanker mafia's business on hidden camera. Our undercover team reached Sangam Vihar in Delhi and met with a tanker mafia operative, Ritesh, who runs the business from his home. The team posed as individuals needing water for construction. Ritesh agreed, enquiring about the quantity needed and the price.
He quoted 2,100 INR for a tanker but then discounted it to 1,500 INR per tanker, holding 12,000 liters. He mentioned additional costs for delivering water to rooftop tanks, raising the price to 3,000 INR per tanker. Investigations revealed that water is being drawn from borewells alongside the Munak Canal and supplied throughout Delhi.
Lieutenant Governor orders crackdown on tanker mafia
Delhi Police are actively patrolling the Munak Canal area as part of the crackdown on the tanker mafia. Ordered by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, continuous patrolling is underway. Water Minister Aatishi Singh of the Aam Aadmi Party also wrote to the police, requesting ACP-ranked officers to monitor the canal. Aatishi stated that the Delhi Government would take action.
Water tankers readily available upon request
Sangam Vihar is home to widespread water mafia activities. Skipping two streets, Aaj Tak's team reached a tanker operator named Mohan. Captured on hidden camera were tankers filling up from borewells. Mohan said he has a 4,500-liter tanker costing 2,200 INR. Aaj Tak's team encountered Mohan, who not only operates an illegal borewell but also stores a large tank of water within his home. Our hidden cameras captured tankers filling from the borewell. Mohan revealed, he sells water taken directly from the Yamuna river and has many contacts to facilitate citywide supply.
LG instructs police to maintain vigilance
The national capital is currently battling a water crisis. LG VK Saxena directed the Police Commissioner to ensure stringent monitoring to prevent water theft at the Munak Canal. The LG's office has stated that immediate actions should be taken to curb any thefts by the tanker mafia and to arrest those involved in illegal activities, with a compliance report to be submitted within a week.
Delhi's demand for water...
Delhi's water demand is estimated to be around 1,300 million gallons per day (MGD), whereas Delhi Jal Board is only able to supply 1,000 MGD. Delhi is highly dependent on neighboring states like Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh for over 90% of its drinking water supply, with sources like the Yamuna river contributing nearly 40% of this supply.
