Ensure unhindered water supply to Delhi: HC to state

New Delhi, May 24

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Haryana Government to ensure water is supplied to the national capital without any hindrance after it was told there were ‘bunds’ on the Yamuna at several places apart from mining activity being undertaken by the mining mafia.

“There should be no hindrance in the flow of water from there (Haryana) to Delhi,” a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice AJ Bhambhani said.

The direction came after a committee, constituted by the High Court to inspect whether ‘bunds’ had been construct in the canals carrying water meant for Delhi, told the bench that such obstructions were found at 11 locations on the Yamuna.

The committee, also comprising retired High Court judge Justice Indermeet Kaur and amicus curiae Rakesh Khanna, submitted a report which stated that apart from the bunds, mining on a large scale was being undertaken in the Yamuna and one of its tributaries — Somb.

The report stated that mining was “causing huge environmental damage to the flora and fauna” in and around the riverbed.

It also said that the bunds “have definitely affected the flow of water in the Yamuna”.

The committee said, “The state of Haryana has deliberately and intentionally kept back the information regarding the details of mining site permits along the Yamuna.”

“Holding back of such information shows that the state was trying to provide a cover to the activities affecting not only the flow of water, but also causing environmental pollution....” It recommended removal of all bunds forthwith.

The committee was also of the view that the flow of water in the Yamuna needed to be monitored and suggested installation of flow meters.

However, the suggestions were opposed by Haryana, which said it wanted to file its objections to the findings given in the report. — PTI