Water crisis: Deputy CM seeks PMO’s intervention

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 16

In the wake of complaints of water shortage from several areas in the capital, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today spoke to Lt Governor Anil Baijal seeking intervention of the Prime Minister Office in the crisis which is understood to have arisen due to “reduced” water supply from neighbouring state Haryana.

Addressing reporters in the evening, Sisodia said Delhi has been deprived of its legal share by the Haryana Government despite Supreme Court’s order.

It is understood that the Delhi Government is considering cutting down water supply in the Central Delhi areas housing residences of ministers to meet the shortfall and ensure equal distribution of water.

Sisodia blamed the Haryana Government for the city’s water woes, saying that Haryana is not releasing the capital’s share. Sisodia said he has requested the PMO through the LG to ensure that Haryana restores the supply of Yamuna water meant for the capital.

“Delhi water crisis. Haryana not releasing Del's share. I just spoke to LG n requested him to seek PMO's intervention (sic),” Sisodia tweeted.

A Jal Board (DJB) official said Haryana has been releasing around 50 million gallons per day (MGD) less than what it normally supplies to Wazirabad reservoir through the Yamuna since May 8.

In the matter, Sisodia said around 80 MGD of Delhi's water supply has been stopped by the Haryana government and chief secretarial talks of both Delhi and Haryana remained inconclusive.

Terming it a “political issue”, Sisodia said he has requested the Lt Governor to seek the PMO's intervention to tackle the water crisis.

“We should rise above politics on this issue,” asserted Sisodia who is holding the additional charge of water since former minister Kapil Mishra was sacked from the Delhi Cabinet.

Sisodia, who apprised the L-G of the issue, said “There is still no solution to water crisis and if the situation continues we will have to cut down the supply in central areas of Delhi.”

Water supply was severely affected in NDMC areas, including parts of the President's estate in the evening today.

Reduced water supply has affected the operations at Wazirabad treatment plant and resulted in low water pressure in several areas in old Delhi and North Delhi, added the official while pointing out that the reduction is attributed by Haryana officials to lowered water level in Hathnikund Barrage, something witnessed every year around this time.

The DJB supplies close to 900 MGD to the residents in the city and of this over 500 MGD is received from Haryana and around 250 MGD is supplied by Uttar Pradesh.

The DJB said, “Due to acute drop of pond level in the Yamuna and reduced supply of water in CLC, the production of water from 3rd 40 MGD plant at Wazirabad has been curtailed up to 30 per cent.”