Performance Audit on Functioning of Delhi Jal Board

A performance audit covering 2017-18 to 2021-22 of whether the Delhi Jal Board delivers reliable water to Delhi's residents, whether sewerage reaches every locality and sewage is treated before disposal, and whether the Board manages its own resources efficiently. It finds a widening gap between water assessed as needed and water actually available, more than half of what is supplied never billed, and a balance sheet carrying ₹66,595 crore of loan and interest.

State: Delhi
Audit period: 1 Apr 2017 — 31 Mar 2022
Presented: 23 Mar 2026

Findings

Non-revenue water ran between 51 and 53 per cent of average daily supply through 2017-22 except in 2019-20; the revenue not realised on that account was ₹4,988 crore.
“Non-Revenue Water (NRW) component was in the range of 51 per cent to 53 per cent of the average quantity of the water supplied per day during the period 2017-22, except for the year 2019-20. The estimated amount of revenue not realised by DJB during the said period on account of NRW was ₹ 4,988 crore.”Executive Summary
DJB's total outstanding loan and interest stood at ₹66,595 crore in March 2022, and it billed only 371 MGD — 40 per cent — of the potable water it produced in 2021-22, of which only 244 MGD was billed on meter readings.
“The total outstanding loan of DJB and interest to be paid stood at ₹ 66,595 crore (March 2022)... During 2021-22, DJB had billed only 371 MGD (40 per cent) of potable water produced. Further, out of 371 MGD, only 244 MGD (66 per cent) was billed based on meter readings.”Executive Summary
Transmission loss from underground and service reservoirs rose from 16 to 21 per cent over 2017-22, and per capita availability was below 20 gallons a day in four zones and below 40 in eight, against a 60-gallon requirement.
“During 2017-22, the transmission loss of water distributed from Under Ground Reservoirs (UGRs)/ Service Reservoirs (SRs) increased from 16 per cent to 21 per cent. The situation was further aggravated by inequitable supply of potable water at zonal level. The per capita availability of potable water was less than 20 GPCD in four zones and less than 40 gallon per capita per day (GPCD) in eight zones against the requirement of 60 GPCD.”Executive Summary
Of 16,234 groundwater samples tested, 8,933 — 55 per cent — were unfit for drinking, and no authority under the Delhi government or DJB has power to regulate groundwater because the 2011 amendment bill was never enacted.
“Due to non-enactment of Delhi Water Board (Amendment) Bill, 2011, there was no authority under the Delhi Government or DJB which has powers to effectively plan to regulate, control and develop groundwater resources. Out of 16,234 samples of ground water tested, 8,933 samples (55 per cent) were found unfit for potable purposes.”Executive Summary
There are no flow meters at treatment plants, reservoirs, water emergencies or borewells, so the quantity treated, transmitted and supplied cannot be measured accurately at all.
“In the absence of the flow meters at Water Treatment Plants (WTPs), Reservoirs, water emergencies and borewells, the quantity of water treated at WTPs/extracted from borewells, transmitted to Reservoirs and supplied to consumers could not be measured accurately.”Executive Summary
212.59 MGD of sewage generated by 1,080 unauthorised colonies was dumped untreated into storm water drains, on the Delhi Pollution Control Committee's own March 2022 figures.
“Apart from this, as per a Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) Report of March 2022, 212.59 MGD sewerage generated by 1080 unauthorised colonies was dumped into storm water drains in untreated form.”Executive Summary

Recommendations

Formulate a water policy and a perspective plan ensuring water adequate to Delhi's population growth.
Install regularly calibrated flow meters at inlet and outlet points of all treatment plants, reservoirs and tube wells, and conduct a water audit to plug water loss and revenue leakage.
Strengthen quality testing laboratories so that water is tested against all prescribed parameters.
Expedite collection of outstanding dues, with emphasis on large and institutional consumers, to improve the financial position.
Take immediate action to address the serious shortage of staff in DJB.

Performance Audit on Functioning of Delhi Jal Board

Findings

Non-revenue water ran between 51 and 53 per cent of average daily supply through 2017-22 except in 2019-20; the revenue not realised on that account was ₹4,988 crore.

“Non-Revenue Water (NRW) component was in the range of 51 per cent to 53 per cent of the average quantity of the water supplied per day during the period 2017-22, except for the year 2019-20. The estimated amount of revenue not realised by DJB during the said period on account of NRW was ₹ 4,988 crore.”Executive Summary

DJB's total outstanding loan and interest stood at ₹66,595 crore in March 2022, and it billed only 371 MGD — 40 per cent — of the potable water it produced in 2021-22, of which only 244 MGD was billed on meter readings.

“The total outstanding loan of DJB and interest to be paid stood at ₹ 66,595 crore (March 2022)... During 2021-22, DJB had billed only 371 MGD (40 per cent) of potable water produced. Further, out of 371 MGD, only 244 MGD (66 per cent) was billed based on meter readings.”Executive Summary

Transmission loss from underground and service reservoirs rose from 16 to 21 per cent over 2017-22, and per capita availability was below 20 gallons a day in four zones and below 40 in eight, against a 60-gallon requirement.

“During 2017-22, the transmission loss of water distributed from Under Ground Reservoirs (UGRs)/ Service Reservoirs (SRs) increased from 16 per cent to 21 per cent. The situation was further aggravated by inequitable supply of potable water at zonal level. The per capita availability of potable water was less than 20 GPCD in four zones and less than 40 gallon per capita per day (GPCD) in eight zones against the requirement of 60 GPCD.”Executive Summary

Of 16,234 groundwater samples tested, 8,933 — 55 per cent — were unfit for drinking, and no authority under the Delhi government or DJB has power to regulate groundwater because the 2011 amendment bill was never enacted.

“Due to non-enactment of Delhi Water Board (Amendment) Bill, 2011, there was no authority under the Delhi Government or DJB which has powers to effectively plan to regulate, control and develop groundwater resources. Out of 16,234 samples of ground water tested, 8,933 samples (55 per cent) were found unfit for potable purposes.”Executive Summary

There are no flow meters at treatment plants, reservoirs, water emergencies or borewells, so the quantity treated, transmitted and supplied cannot be measured accurately at all.

“In the absence of the flow meters at Water Treatment Plants (WTPs), Reservoirs, water emergencies and borewells, the quantity of water treated at WTPs/extracted from borewells, transmitted to Reservoirs and supplied to consumers could not be measured accurately.”Executive Summary

212.59 MGD of sewage generated by 1,080 unauthorised colonies was dumped untreated into storm water drains, on the Delhi Pollution Control Committee's own March 2022 figures.

“Apart from this, as per a Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) Report of March 2022, 212.59 MGD sewerage generated by 1080 unauthorised colonies was dumped into storm water drains in untreated form.”Executive Summary

Recommendations

Formulate a water policy and a perspective plan ensuring water adequate to Delhi's population growth.

Install regularly calibrated flow meters at inlet and outlet points of all treatment plants, reservoirs and tube wells, and conduct a water audit to plug water loss and revenue leakage.

Strengthen quality testing laboratories so that water is tested against all prescribed parameters.

Expedite collection of outstanding dues, with emphasis on large and institutional consumers, to improve the financial position.

Take immediate action to address the serious shortage of staff in DJB.