Amid the water crisis gripping the Capital, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday said he has spoken to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini who informed him that water was being provided to the national Capital as per its allocated share despite the constraints imposed on Haryana in terms of water supply due to the weather.
“Spoke to Hon’ble CM, Haryana, Shri Nayab Saini ji yesterday. He reiterated that water was being provided to Delhi as per allocated share and assured of all possible help, despite the state’s own constraints due to the ongoing heat wave” Saxena said in a post on X.
Holding Aam Aadmi Party government responsible for the water crisis, the Delhi BJP leaders demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The ruling AAP dispensation has during the past fortnight repeatedly accused the BJP-ruled Haryana of stopping Delhi's share of water. The national capital has been experiencing severe water shortage amid the unprecedented summer heat.
Over the weekend, Delhi Water Minister Atishi wrote to the Haryana chief minister alleging inadequate release of water from the Munak Canal, on which the seven Water Treatment Plants in Delhi are dependent for the generation of potable water, by his state government. Speaking to reporters later, Haryana CM Saini had denied these allegations.
Atishi on Tuesday once again slammed the Haryana government and alleged that it was “deliberately” and “illegally” halting the water supply to the capital. In a press conference here, Atishi alleged that the Haryana government was releasing less water to the city because of which Delhi is unable to meet the daily water requirement.
Following an inspection of two sub-canals fed by the Munak Canal in Northwest Delhi’s Bawana, Atishi alleged that Delhi should ideally receive 1050 cusecs of water per day but was receiving just 840 cusecs. “Haryana has been lying regarding the water released by them. Statistics by Haryana government show that from May 1 to May 22, they have released 719 cusec for CLC (carrier line channel) and 330 cusec in DSB (Delhi sub-branch), as per the affidavit submitted in Supreme Court,” Atishi said at a briefing. “In total, 1049 cusec water was released from May 1 to May 22. But, the supply started to decline from May 23, it dropped from 719 cusec and 309 cusec to 675 cusec and 283 cusec.
Citing an affidavit submitted by the Haryana government in the Supreme Court, the minister said, “The Haryana government has been lying that they have released adequate supply water to Delhi. Their affidavit filed in the Supreme Court presents the data on actual discharge of water which has exposed their lie.”
According to the affidavit, from May 23 ahead of the elections in Delhi, the water quantities released was reduced by the Haryana government, she alleged.
“Delhi went to polls on May 25, before that for four days they (Haryana government) reduced the water supply to the city, this is shown by their own affidavit filed in the Supreme Court,” she said.
“Even between 7 June and 10 June, Haryana released less amount of water in both sub-canals of Munak Canal. This is shown by the data given to the Supreme Court. The water released by Haryana reduces further by the time it reaches Delhi. We will also submit all these data to the Supreme Court tomorrow. We have filed an additional affidavit in the Supreme Court. I will also write a letter to the CM of Haryana regarding this,” Atishi added.
The Water Minister shared that now that Delhi has been facing a water crisis for the last week and the matter is going on in the Supreme Court, Haryana is reducing the water of the Munak Canal. According to Haryana's data, on 7, 8, 9 and 10 June, Haryana was supposed to release 719 cusecs of water in CLC, instead of which only 675 cusecs of water were released, and in DSB, instead of 330 cusecs, 310 cusecs of water was released.
The minister also said that she will write a letter to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini regarding this and also approach the Supreme Court to present before it the data in the affidavit.
Atishi said Delhi was falling short of 40-45 million gallons per day of water due to the stalled water supply from Haryana.
The Delhi government's quick response team has been tasked to inspect the water distribution plants in Delhi to check for any leakages, she added.
Holding the Kejriwal government responsible for water crisis, BJP MP from South Delhi, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri led a protest at Chhatarpur Assembly Constituency. Addressing protesters, Bidhuri said the Aam Aadmi Party government has completely failed and such a government has no moral or political basis to remain in power because by the victory of BJP on all the seven seats of Delhi, the public has given its verdict.
