Haryana not releasing Delhi’s share of 1,050 cusecs of water, says Atishi
Haryana is not releasing to Delhi its share of 1,050 cusecs of water through the Munank canal, the city government’s Water Minister Atishi alleged on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference, Atishi said during the summer, when Haryana releases 1,050 cusecs of water, Delhi receives about 990 cusecs. “However, in the past one week, Delhi has been getting less water. It received 924 cusecs on June 1, 884 cusecs on June 4, 856 cusecs on June 6, and 840 cusecs on June 7. During every summer, there is a loss of around 59 to 60 cusecs of water due to evaporation. If 840 cusecs of water is reaching Delhi, it means Haryana is not releasing water in the Munak canal,” she said.
The national capital has been grappling with a water
shortage, with Atishi blaming Haryana for not releasing Yamuna water to the city.
The problem has become acute in some areas such as Chanakyapuri, where residents were seen climbing on top of a tanker with pipes to get their share of water. The acute shortage has become an “existential problem” in Delhi, the Supreme
Court observed on Thursday and directed the Himachal Pradesh government to release 137 cusecs of surplus water to the national capital and Haryana to facilitate its flow.
The top court also said there should be no politics over water. Atishi said if water at the carrier-lined channel and the Delhi sub-branch -- two sub
canals of the Munank canal -- stay at this level, then all of Delhi will face a shortage in the coming two days.
Early on Saturday, Atishi visited the two sub-canals of the Munak canal in Bawana.
She said, “Delhi is completely dependent on the Yamuna for water for domestic use. The water that we use in our homes comes from Delhi’s seven treatment plants. Water
in these treatment plants comes from the Wazirabad barrage and the two sub-canals of the Munak canal. Water goes to all the seven water treatment plants of Delhi from these two sub-canals.”
According to an agreement between Haryana and Delhi, Haryana has to release 1,050 cusecs of water daily for the national capital through the Munak canal, she said.