To avert the severe water crisis in Delhi, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has moved the Supreme Court against the Haryana government, appealing an immediate cessation of discharge of untreated pollutants into river Yamuna and releasing sufficient water to Delhi.
The normal level of Yamuna River near Wazirabad pond should be 674.50 feet but it has dropped to 670.90, a drop that is alarming with an Ammonia level reaching to approx 3.6 PPM.
Delhi is facing a potential severe water crisis due to the twin factors of high ammonia levels in River Yamuna and the continuously depleting water level at Wazirabad barrage, which supplies drinking water to the Wazirabad, Okhla and Chandrawal ‘Water Treatment Plants’ (WTPs), the DJB said in a statement.
A senior DJB official said that the water levels that should stand at 674.50 feet are now down to an alarming low of 670.4 feet. “Raw water is sourced from river Yamuna and is drawn at Wazirabad Barrage in Delhi. The availability of quantity and quality of raw water at Wazirabad Barrage is dependent on release of water by the Haryana government,” he said.
Raghav Chadha, Vice Chairman of the DJB expressed his deep anguish and disappointment over Haryana government’s “lackadaisical” attitude leading to unchecked dumping of sewerage into the Yamuna and the reduction in the supply of raw water to Delhi due to which the capital is facing an acute water shortage.
Haryana supplies water to Delhi in three ways, Carrier-Lined Channel (CLC), Delhi Sub-Branch (DSB) and the Yamuna. CLC and DSB are supplied water from Hathni Kund via Munak canal and BBMB (Bhakra Beas Management Board). At present, Delhi receives 479 MGD of water against 609 MGD from Haryana. Apart from this, Delhi has 90 MGD groundwater and receives 250 MGD from the Upper Ganga Canal.
Explaining how Delhi is a landlocked city dependent on the supply of water from external sources and the strenuous efforts of DJB in meeting the increasing demand of Delhiites, Chadha said, “DJB has undertaken every possible effort to liaise with central and state authorities for a workable resolution on this issue.”