The national Capital has been grappling with a water shortage, with Delhi Water Minister Atishi blaming Haryana for not releasing Yamuna water to the city. Atishi on Saturday alleged that Haryana is not releasing to Delhi its share of 1,050 cusecs of water through the Munak canal. Addressing a press conference, Atishi said during the summer, when Haryana releases 1,050 cusecs of water, Delhi receives about 995 cusecs.
Meanwhile, the Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva pinned the responsibility for the ongoing water crisis in the city on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal led AAP government due to its negligent attitude. He remarked that Kejriwal Government quickly calls assembly sessions to shine its political agenda on minor issues, but while the people of Delhi have been facing a water crisis for several days, the Kejriwal Government is merely playing a blame game.
Several parts of the national capital are facing acute shortage of water this summer. The situation has worsen in unauthorized colonies and slum areas.
"However, in the past one week, Delhi has been getting less water. It received 924 cusecs on June 1, 884 cusecs on June 4, 856 cusecs on June 6, and 840 cusecs on June 7. During every summer, there is a loss of around 59 to 60 cusecs of water due to evaporation. If 840 cusecs of water is reaching Delhi, it means Haryana is not releasing water in the Munak canal," Atishi said.The national capital has been grappling with a water shortage, with Atishi blaming Haryana for not releasing Yamuna water to the city.
The problem has become acute in some areas such as Chanakyapuri, where residents were seen climbing on top of a tanker with pipes to get their share of water.
The acute shortage has become an "existential problem" in Delhi, the Supreme Court observed on Thursday and directed the Himachal Pradesh government to release 137 cusecs of surplus water to the national capital and Haryana to facilitate its flow.
The top court also said there should be no politics over water. Atishi said if water at the carrier-lined channel and the Delhi sub-branch -- two sub-branches of the Munank canal -- stay at this level, then all of Delhi will face a shortage in the coming two days.
On Friday, visiting Wazirabad barrage to take stock of the situation, she said the shortage would not be solved even if Himachal Pradesh released water as Haryana had "reduced" the city's share. "Haryana is conspiring against the people of Delhi behind the back of the Supreme Court," she had alleged.
"The water level of the Yamuna at Wazirabad has come down from 671 feet on June 2 to 669.7 feet on Friday. If the water level falls so low, how will the water treatment plants supply water to the people of Delhi?" she had said.
Meanwhile, Delhi BJP challenged Atishi for an open debate with Haryana government and Delhi BJP or to call an all-party meeting regarding the water supply from Haryana.
Sachdeva said, “Water Minister Atishi inspected the Wazirabad barrage on Friday and the Munak-Bawana canal today, where she falsely claimed that the Haryana government is not sending enough water. However, she did not mention that silt has not been removed from the Wazirabad barrage for the past ten years, which has reduced its storage capacity.”
The Delhi BJP President stated that disproportionate water distribution in many areas of Delhi has led to people fighting over water. “Today, people are falling victim to the arbitrary behaviour of tanker mafias, and a game of extorting money under the patronage of Kejriwal's MLAs and municipal councilors is ongoing in exchange for water.”
He stated that the Kejriwal government must answer all these questions from the public.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court observed that the acute shortage had become an "existential problem" in Delhi and directed the Himachal Pradesh government to release 137 cusecs of surplus water to the national capital and Haryana to facilitate its flow. The top court also emphasised that there should be no politics over water.
