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Water supply in India's capital restored partially

Xinhua, February 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Water supply in India's capital city New Delhi was restored partially Wednesday after authorities made three water plants out of the damaged seven functional, officials said.

Delhi Jal Board (DJB), the authority to ensure availability of water, said functioning of the three plants has helped water availability in North Delhi, Central Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) area, parts of South Delhi and some pockets of West Delhi.

"A team of DJB engineers comprised of two Chief Engineers and two SE's was sent to assess the damage caused by the mob in the Haryana portion of the Carrier Lined Channel (CLC) and the Delhi Sub Branch Canals," a statement issued by the DJB said.

"As per the initial assessment, the damage is quite extensive which may require some time for the canals to be made operational," it added.

India's official broadcaster All India Radio said the plants were yet to function to their full capacity, since there has been a drop in the water level at the Wazirabad Pond.

Over 17 million people living in the city were affected due to water shortages after agitators of Jat community in the neighbouring Haryana state, who demanded reservation of their caste under quota, damaged equipment in the Munak canal. The canal is the main source of portable water for Delhi.

Water supplies came partially after Indian army took control of the canal.

Officials said they have pressed in water tankers to carry water to the areas where supplies were badly affected.

At least 19 people were killed and around 200 people including policemen were injured in the violence across the north Indian state.

The protesters resorted to arson targeting shops, malls, vehicles, government buildings, petrol pumps, railway stations, besides looting an armoury. Locals alleged that the protesters also resorted to looting merchandise from shops.

In India, quotas for lower castes and economically weaker sections are guaranteed constitutionally.

Jats are currently listed as upper caste, but they are demanding the status of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), saying quotas for other lower castes put them at a disadvantage.

The previous government in Haryana had announced "Special Backward Caste" for the Jats in 2013, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court stalled the move last year.

India's Supreme Court has rejected inclusion of Jats in the list of OBC on the ground that India's commission of backward castes does not consider Jats socially and economically backward in Haryana.

Analysts say quotas push people in India to an advantage in government jobs, education, among others. Endit