Water crisis in Delhi: Delhi government petitions the Supreme Court to release water from Haryana immediately
Recently, the Delhi government has moved the Supreme Court seeking directions to the state of Haryana to release water immediately for the beleaguered national capital. Citing the scorching heat conditions prevailing in north India, particularly Delhi, the plea states that there has been an extraordinary and excessive increase in the demand for water in the capital. Despite all possible administrative measures being taken by the government to ensure optimization, rationing and targeted supply, the capital is facing acute water shortage. As such, there is a need for additional water supply.
Further, it states that Delhi, being a low-lying riparian Union Territory, is seeking additional water supply through the instant plea in view of the emergent situation arising out of the dry, arid summer this year. This is without prejudice to any inter-state water dispute and/or the capital’s claim on shared water resources, as well as is intended as a temporary arrangement till the onset of the monsoon season or the temperature in the city subsides.
The petition points out that the State of Himachal Pradesh has agreed to share its surplus water with Delhi. But, it does not share physical boundary with the Union Territory, and thus, the water is required to be routed through the existing water channels/river systems in the State of Haryana, to ultimately be released to Delhi at the Wazirabad Barrage.
In this backdrop, the petition states that the Delhi Government has made a request to the State of Haryana, but the State of Haryana has not yet acceded to the same. Accordingly, directions are sought so that the State of Haryana extends its cooperation and releases water to Delhi, including the additional/surplus water agreed to be released by Himachal Pradesh.
The petition highlights that the national capital is home to a large number of migrants from across the country, including from the neighbouring States of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Thus, Haryana has a reciprocal obligation to assist in resolving Delhi’s water and sanitation crisis.
A large portion of the workforce resides in Delhi, and thus, the water crisis may have ramifications on the responsibilities of workers across the country.
Earlier today, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to social media platform ‘X’ to say that the amount of water supplied to the capital by neighbouring states has been limited. He urged the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in power in UP and Haryana, to ask their leaders to keep politics aside and supply additional water to Delhi for a month.
Notably, the Aam Aadmi Party, which is in power in Delhi, has accused the BJP-led government in Haryana of not giving Delhi its share of water since May 1.
Amid the water crisis, Delhi’s Jal Minister Atishi Marlena issued an order last Wednesday stating that a fine of Rs 2,000 will be imposed on anyone found wasting water. Additionally, 200 teams were deployed from May 30 to prevent (i) washing cars from pipes, (ii) overflowing of water tanks, and (iii) use of domestic water supply for construction or commercial purpose
