A day after the Haryana Assembly passed a resolution condemning the reported statement of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on the Sutlej-Yamuna link (SYl) canal row, Haryana Agriculture and Irrigation Minister OP Dhankar on Thursday shot off a strongly-worded letter telling him that the State would be unable to supply drinking water to the national Capital as he had stood against the interests of farmers of the neighbouring State.
Dhankar’s letter came in the backdrop of the Delhi Chief Minister asking Punjab to stop Yamuna water supply to Haryana. Attacking Kejriwal for opposing the construction of SYl canal in Punjab, Dhankar has asked him to “get his own canal constructed for carrying Delhi’s share of water”.
Replying to a query, Kejriwal on Tuesday said he was against the construction of Sutlej-Yamuna link (SYl) Canal as the Punjab does not have enough water to share with other States.
In the letter, Dhankar reminded Kejriwal that Delhi will be at the receiving end once the water supply to Haryana is stopped. “Seeing your stand (opposing the construction of SYl canal in Punjab) Haryana will not be able to deliver your share of water in Delhi since you have stood against the interests of the farmers and people of Haryana,” he said. Dhankar termed Kejriwal’s stand as “wrong” and alleged he has opposed the proposed canal for gaining “political benefits” in Punjab.
“For Delhi’s needs of water you may take the trouble of getting your own canal constructed from Nangal Dam and Tajewala Headwork’s (Yamunanagar) so that Delhi’s share of water reaches the national Capital with your efforts,” Dhankar wrote.
“You would be aware that from Ravi-Beas, Haryana was allocated 3.5 million acre per feet (MAF) and Delhi 0.2 MAF of water. Haryana gets Delhi’s 0.2 MAF share through the Bhakra Main line from Punjab which then, through Narwana Branch and Western Yamuna Canal systems, reaches Delhi,” he wrote. Besides, Haryana also transfers 330 cusec of Yamuna water through the Western Yamuna Canal to Delhi, he said, adding Haryana is not able to lift its share of 498 cusec of water.
“We have share of water in Ravi-Beas at Nangal Dam meant for Haryana and Delhi, but there is no channel to get this. And you have opposed the proposed SYl canal, through which water for Haryana and Delhi would have come,” he said.
On Wednesday, the Haryana Assembly had passed a resolution condemning the reported statement of AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal that he was against the construction of the SYl canal as Punjab has no spare water.
There has been a long standing dispute over supply of drinking water between Delhi and Haryana. The water supply in the Capital was recently badly affected after Jat protestors damaged Munak canal, which supplies about 500 cusec water every day to Delhi. But prompt action by the Haryana Government restored the drinking water supply to the city.
Terming Kejriwal’s statement as politically motivated, Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay said if Delhi faces any water shortage it will be the result of irresponsible dirty politics of Kejriwal. “Before issuing political statements with an eye on Punjab polls, Kejriwal should realise he has first responsibility towards the people of Delhi who elected him. Any statement that he issues against the irrigation interests of Haryana farmers is bound to get a bad reaction from the State Government,” Upadhyay said.
Congress leader Chattar Singh said that Kejriwal should not issue such statement despite knowing the fact that water is a sensitive issue. “He is not behaving like a mature politician. After Haryana Government’s reaction, Kejriwal seems to be on the back foot,” said Chattar Singh.