As Delhiites are reeling under the double blow of a relentless heatwave and water crisis, blame game continued between Delhi, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh in the Supreme Court on Thursday.
In a twist in the Supreme Court battle over Delhi's spiralling water crisis, Himachal Pradesh has said it does not have surplus water to send to the national Capital, a day after the hill State said it had released water for Delhi and the supply needs to go through Haryana while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi Government filed a fresh affidavit saying it “cannot” take action against tanker mafia as they are operating on the “Haryana side of the Yamuna River.” Haryana should explain why action was not taken,” the Delhi Government said in the affidavit shifting the responsibility.
After hearing all stakeholders, a vacation bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Prasanna B Varale said sharing of Yamuna water between States is a complex and sensitive issue and this court does not have the technical expertise to decide on it even on an interim basis. The bench, therefore, left it to the Upper Yamuna River Board to examine if some relief can be extended to Delhi in terms of releasing additional water supply.
The bench has asked the Delhi government to submit an application to Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) for water supply, seeking water for the national capital on humanitarian grounds. "The issue should be left to be considered by the body constituted with the agreement of parties in the memorandum of understanding dated 1994. "Since UYRB has already directed Delhi to submit an application for the supply of additional 150 cusecs of water on humanitarian grounds, such an application be made, if not already made, today by 5 pm, and thereafter the board shall convene a meeting tomorrow and take decision in the matter at the earliest. If need be, the board can convene on a day to day basis," the bench said while disposing of the plea filed by the Delhi government.
The ongoing water crisis in Delhi has escalated into a blame game as the AAP and office of Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, with both accusing each other of shielding the water tanker mafia and mismanagement of supply even as residents continue to scramble for the supply. Exhausted women and children could be seen walking long distances and standing and sitting in serpentine queues for a few buckets of water that the tanker would bring. Many would return home with not enough water to cook a meal or quench their thirst. A large part of the national capital has been getting sufficient water supply since the start of the summer season. The DJB’s production is hovering around 950 million gallon water per day (mgd) while demand is over 1300 mgd daily here. South Delhi, Central and West and North East are among the worst affected areas in the national capital.
The national capital was in for a huge disappointment when the Himachal Pradesh government took U turn on Thursday and told the court it does not have surplus 136 cusecs of water, recanting an earlier statement. "We could not convey it properly earlier. Our correct statement may come on record. Maybe we made a mistake earlier, but I have been briefed. I will correct and withdraw the earlier statement that flow was obstructed," the counsel of Himachal Pradesh said. This drew a warning from the court. "We can haul you up for contempt and summon your Chief Secretary," it said. The Himachal government counsel apologised and said they will submit an affidavit and withdraw their earlier response.
In an affidavit filed before the top court, the Delhi government said water tankers are needed to cater to areas not connected to water supply lines or where the supply is inadequate.It said the total water supplied by the Delhi Jal Board and private tankers in the city is around 5-6 million gallons per day which constitutes only 0.5 per cent of total supply.
"DJB has been trying to improve the availability of water tankers so that even private tankers can be replaced by public tankers. Multiple letters have been written by the Petitioner Government to the Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi (who is at present in charge of ensuring action)."The tanker mafia is operational on the Haryana side of the Yamuna river over which DJB has no jurisdiction," it said. Highlighting the steps taken by the Delhi government to stop water wastage, it said it has reduced losses in water transmission from Haryana to Delhi from 30 per cent to 5 per cent. "Earlier the raw water from Yamuna and Ravi, Beas sources used to come in Delhi at Wazirabad and Haiderpur through river course and unlined Delhi sub Branch (DSB), resulting in 30 per cent loss in unlined canal. "DJB spent about Rs 500 crore in constructing Carried Lined Channel (CLC) and the losses reduced from 30 per cent in the river course to 5 per cent.
Delhi government's advocate Abhishek Singhvi said everything possible to augment water availability will be done. He, however, suggested that the court should consider constituting a committee as boards have been reduced to bureaucratic bodies, an apparent swipe at UYRB. Highlighting the steps taken by the Delhi government to stop water wastage, Singhvi said instructions like ban on car washing have been issued. He said the water level at Wazirabad barrage was not being maintained at its optimum level.
Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the Haryana government, disputed his claim and asserted that the requisite water level was being maintained in Wazirabad. Divan said since the matter involves highly technical aspects of water allocation, it should be left to UYRB to decide. Additional Solicitor General Vikramjeet Banerjee, representing UYRB, agreed with him and said the issue can be resolved by the board.
Meanwhile, as Delhi continues to reel under a severe water crisis, city police patrolling has begun around Munak Canal (Bawana Nahar) to keep a check on the tanker mafias, who are reportedly active in the area.
