On lines of Mumbai's upstream storage, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday mooted building a storage, or construct reservoirs, for the National Capital in order to fulfill the demand for potable water.
The issue was discussed at a high level meeting chaired by Union Water and Resources Minister Harish Rawat, on Tuesday. The Chief Ministers of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan were also present in the meeting.
While conveying her deep concern over rising demand of drinking water in the Delhi, Dikshit batted for construction of upstream storage at three sites — Renuka dam in Himachal Pradesh, lakhwar Vyasi and Kishau - both in Uttrakhand.
Delhi Government also demanded correction of Yamuna water agreement. Sources said the issue of Munak canal and other bilateral issues were not discussed at the meeting as the same would be discussed at Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.
The issue of Munak canal has become a bone of contention between Haryana and Delhi. A few days ago, a delegation comprising MPs and MlAs led by East Delhi MP Sandeep Dikshit met Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, demanding additional water supply for Delhi. Earlier, Dikshit had written a letter to Rawat and sought his intervention in the wake of water shortage crisis.
Top sources said that 1994 Yamuna water sharing agreement recommended construction of three reservoirs —Renuka, Kishau and lakhwar Vyasi to make available additional raw water to Delhi. The project for Renuka reservoir is pending for clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Delhi Government has sought intervention from Union Water Ministry to expedite the construction of the Renuka, lakhwar Vyasi and Kishau reservoirs at river Yamuna. "There are no upstream storages on the river and the Capital is able to utilise only 40 per cent of its allocation from river Yamuna. There is an urgent need to set up upstream storages," Dikshit stated in the meeting.
She also emphasised the urgency of Delhi's drinking water requirements and requested for the cooperation of both, the Centre and Basin States, in fulfilling the requirements of the national Capital.
During the meeting, Dikshit has reported to have had asked for correction of Yamuna water sharing agreement to get more water for the people of Delhi. After the meeting, Dikshit stated that the Delhi Government has urged to expedite the construction of reservoirs to meet the rising demand of drinking water in the lines of big storage tank in Mumbai.
The Chief Minister further stated that HUDCO had come up with such a plan few years ago, the ministry should examine its proposal. Dikshit also made it clear that bilateral issues were not discussed in the meeting.