Water woes: Kejriwal writes to Khattar, Baijal

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 17

With a possible water crises looming over Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today wrote to his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar and Lt Governor Anil Baijal requesting them to maintain the current level of water supply to avoid an “unprecedented situation”.

Kejriwal’s move followed a day after the Haryana government assured the Supreme Court that it would maintain status quo on supply of the Yamuna water to the national Capital till May 21 and would decide on the Delhi government’s request to continue the supply.

In a letter to Baijal, Kejriwal requested him to use good offices to persuade Haryana to continue the supply of current level of water it has done for the past 22 years and also take up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Kejriwal said if Haryana reduces water supply from May 21, it could lead to an unprecedented situation and water shortage in the capital.

“Disruption in water supply from Haryana would affect Chandrawal Water Treatment Plant, which supplies water to the VIP areas of Delhi, including Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament, embassies of various countries and other major establishments,” Kejriwal stated in the letter.

He said Delhi has been receiving 1,133 cusecs of water from Haryana since 1996, but for the first time, the state has contested Delhi’s claim.

The apex court has directed Haryana to maintain status quo till May 21 and asked Delhi to approach the Upper Yamuna River Board, Kejriwal said.

In the letter to Khattar, Kejriwal said Delhi has been facing shortage of drinking water supply from December 30 last year, first because of increased pollution levels at Wazirabad and from April 2 on account of reduced water release through Diversion Drain-8/ river Yamuna.

“This has led to Wazirabad pond not being filled up to the desired level due to which drinking water production has been affected at Wazirabad and Chandrawal Water Treatment Plants. Supply of water through Delhi Sub Branch and Carrier Line Channel is reduced by 100 cusecs,” Kejriwal said.

Further, he noted that water demand peaks during summer months in May and June up to 20 per cent which makes water rationalisation in distribution difficult.