Recently, the Himachal Pradesh government withdrew its earlier statement regarding having a surplus of 136 cusecs of water. This came to light during a Supreme Court hearing on the ongoing water crisis in Delhi. The court has now directed the Delhi government to approach the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) for water supply.
Supreme Court’s Directive
A vacation bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Prasanna B Varale was hearing a plea from the Delhi government. The plea sought directions for Haryana to release surplus water that Himachal Pradesh was supposed to provide to Delhi. The Supreme Court instructed the Delhi government to submit an application to the UYRB by 5 pm, requesting water on humanitarian grounds.
The bench acknowledged that the issue of sharing Yamuna water among states is complex and sensitive. It stated that the Supreme Court lacks the technical expertise to make decisions on this matter, even on an interim basis. The court emphasized that the issue should be handled by the body established through the 1994 memorandum of understanding.
The court noted that the UYRB had already directed Delhi to submit an application for water supply on humanitarian grounds. It urged the Delhi government to file this application by 5 pm if it had not done so already. The UYRB was instructed to convene a meeting the next day to make a prompt decision on the matter.
In an earlier affidavit, the UYRB referred to a letter from Himachal Pradesh to Haryana which indicated that Himachal’s share of unutilized water was already flowing to the Hathnikund barrage, and Haryana was asked to release this water to Delhi. The affidavit stated that Himachal Pradesh does not have storage facilities to release an additional 137 cusecs of water as per the Supreme Court’s earlier order.
Delhi’s Water Crisis and Water Mafia Issues
Earlier in the day, the Delhi government submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court addressing the water crisis. The affidavit mentioned the presence of a water tanker mafia entering Delhi from Haryana. The Delhi government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party, claimed it was unable to act against the water mafia due to jurisdictional issues. Despite these challenges, the Delhi government stated it was working to control water leakages.
Delhi has been facing a severe water crisis and has accused Haryana of not releasing its fair share of water. This ongoing dispute has contributed to the worsening situation in the national capital.
The involvement of the UYRB and the directives from the Supreme Court aim to find a resolution that ensures adequate water supply to Delhi.
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