As Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) water sharing row between Punjab and Haryana escalated, Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma on Tuesday accused the Punjab Government of indulging in a “conspiracy” to deprive the national capital of its due share of water, prompting a rebuttal from the AAP urging the BJP to “deliver on promises and not make excuses and not make excuses.” Verma called the situation “a calculated attack on the people of Delhi by those who once ruled them.” AAP strongly denied the allegations and accused the BJP of engaging in “cheap politics”.
He said that Delhi’s supply has been continuously reduced in the past six days - first by 88 cusecs on May 1 and then by 130 cusecs on May 5. The water supply from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to Delhi has been steadily decreasing from May 1 to May 5, Delhi’s water minister said. According to him, the shortfall was 88 cusecs on May 1, 119 cusecs on May 2, 71 cusecs on May 3, 55 cusecs on May 4, and 130 cusecs on May 5. This totals 463 cusecs of missing water in five days - a massive shortfall that has affected lakhs of households across the city.
The fresh sparring between the two parties came amid a water dispute between Haryana and Punjab after the latter refused to release water from the Bhakra dams. Delhi receives approximately 1,005 million gallons per day (MGD) of raw water, with the majority-around 60 per cent or 613 MGD-coming from Haryana.
“It is the Punjab Government’s conspiracy to deprive Delhi of its share of water. They are doing dirty politics over water supply to take revenge on the people of Delhi for electoral losses of AAP in February,” Verma said in a statement.
The daily reduction in water supply is causing difficulties for Delhi residents, especially during the summer season, said the Minister. While condemning the reduction in water supply, the Minister assured that the BJP Government would not allow the public to suffer.
Calling the situation a “serious problem” for Delhi residents, the minister blamed “dirty politics” for the crisis and assured that the Government would take all necessary steps to resolve the issue and hold those responsible accountable. Verma urged the Central Government and the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to take urgent action. “This is not just an inter-State issue. It is a threat to the federal spirit of our democracy and a direct assault on basic human rights.” The Delhi unit of the BJP submitted a memorandum to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, alleging that the AAP Government in Punjab was pushing Delhi “into artificial water shortage by announcing a cut in Bhakra canal water supply to other State” after AAP’s defeat in Delhi polls.
AAP leaders hit back, saying Delhi’s water sources do not lie in Punjab. Countering the allegations, former Delhi chief minister and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Atishi called for Verma’s resignation. First of all, being Delhi’s Water Minister, I would expect that in the past two months, he would have at least learned that Delhi receives water from only two rivers - one is the Yamuna River, through the Munak Canal, and the other is the Ganga River, through the Upper Ganga Canal. Neither the Ganga nor the Yamuna flows from Punjab. Therefore, Punjab cannot stop Delhi’s water. Please stop lying to the people of Delhi.” Demanding resignation of Parvesh Verma, former Delhi CM said “Delhi’s Water Minister Parvesh Verma should resign.
Delhi receives around 60 per cent or 613 MGD water from Haryana. Of this, 548 MGD is supplied through the Munak canal, which originates in Karnal and receives a portion of its water from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). An additional 65 MGD is channelled through the Wazirabad barrage. Uttar Pradesh contributes about 25 per cent of Delhi’s water supply, amounting to 257 MGD, while the remaining 15 per cent, or 135 MGD, is drawn from groundwater sources across the city.