Delhi, Punjab CMs meet EC, accuse Haryana of poisoning Yamuna

| | New Delhi
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Delhi, Punjab CMs meet EC, accuse Haryana of poisoning Yamuna

Wednesday, 29 January 2025 | Staff Reporter | New Delhi

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and her Punjab counterpart, Bhagwant Mann, met Election Commission (EC) officials on Tuesday, alleging that the BJP-led Haryana government is deliberately releasing alarming levels of ammonia into the Yamuna river, endangering Delhi's water supply.  Raising concerns over the rising ammonia levels in the Yamuna, Atishi urged the EC to form a joint team of engineers from both states and EC representatives to investigate the matter as the water is no longer treatable.

The Delhi Chief Minister emphasized that water is a critical and sensitive issue, and the Election Commission has assured action in the interest of Delhiites. Meanwhile, CM Bhagwant Mann condemned attempts to politicise water, calling it unacceptable to link such a basic necessity to electoral gains.

Following the meeting, Atishi told a press conference, "We presented our concerns to the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners. The ammonia levels in the Yamuna have risen to 7 ppm (parts per million), which exceeds the filtration capacity of Delhi's water treatment plants. The EC has told us that it will listen to Haryana's version before taking a decision that benefits the people of Delhi. We trust the EC for free-and-fair elections."

Mann called for immediate action, saying, "We have demanded additional water from the Munak canal to compensate for the toxic inflow into the Yamuna. The EC will also review last year's ammonia-level data. We are confident that it will rule in Delhi's favour."

Atishi had written two letters to the EC seeking an immediate meeting with the officials of the poll panel - one on Monday and another on Tuesday morning.

Atishi said in her letter that the water treatment plants belonging to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) can treat ammonia up to 1 ppm level but ammonia levels in the water coming from Haryana to Delhi are 700 per cent above the treatable limit. This has curtailed the water supply in the city by 15-20 per cent, she said, warning that high levels of ammonia in drinking water can lead to a public health crisis and cause kidney damage.

Hitting back at the charges, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has demanded that Kejriwal apologise or they will sue him. "For these blatantly false and disgusting statements, Kejriwal should immediately apologise to the people of Haryana and Delhi for this statement, otherwise, we will file a defamation suit against him," he said.

 The issue of Yamuna's water quality has emerged as a key topic of contention as Delhi faces water shortages in some areas due to reduced treatment capacity at DJB plants. With elections nearing, the political blame game between the AAP and BJP is intensifying.

In a fresh letter to the Election Commission, Atishi highlighted that ammonia levels were "six times above normal," warning that such water could not be treated or supplied to residents of the city without risking their health. Taking to X, she wrote, "Ammonia levels continue to be six times above normal in Yamuna waters at the point it is entering Delhi from Haryana.

Such levels are extremely toxic for the human body. Have once again written to the Election Commission asking for their intervention to prevent this toxic water from coming to Delhi."

He accused the BJP of planning "mass murder" but vowed that the AAP would not allow it to happen. However, DJB CEO Shilpa Shinde dismissed Kejriwal's claims as "factually incorrect" and "misleading."

In a letter to Delhi Chief Secretary Dharmendra, Shinde emphasised the need to avoid making statements that could harm interstate relations and public confidence.

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