Delhi battles acute water crisis, state govt moves SC seeking additional water supply

The government of Delhi reached out to the Central government and moved the Supreme Court appealing for additional water supply from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh for a month amid a severe shortage in the national capital.

In its petition submitted to the Supreme Court, the Delhi government said that there has been an increase in the demand for water in the national capital amid sweltering heat.

"Delhi's need for water has increased in the scorching heat. It is everyone's responsibility to fulfil the needs of the country's capital," stated the petition.

Delhi minister complains to Centre about Haryana failing to release adequate amount of water

Delhi Minister Atishi wrote to the Central government regarding the water crisis and said that an adequate amount of water is not being released by Haryana.

Also Read:‘Car washing banned,’ Delhi govt introduces fine for wasting water amidst acute shortage

"Delhi is heavily dependent on water from the Yamuna River for its day-to-day demand for water. However, since the last few days, there has been a drastic dip in the water levels at the Wazirabad Barrage as Haryana is not releasing the required amount of water in the Yamuna river," said Atishi, in a letter to Union Water Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

"Moreover, the temperature in Delhi has touched almost 50 degrees. This has further intensified the demand for water," she said.

National capital's water woes

Various areas in the national capital including Chanakyapuri's Sanjay Camp area and Geeta colony in east Delhi have been battling acute water shortages.

Delhi water crisis pic.twitter.com/Ly9JhBJycY — MrsMohini (@MohiniWealth) May 30, 2024

In the scorching heat and rising temperature, people have been forced to stand in long queues to fill just one bucket of water as tankers come and go without providing them withadequate amount of water.

The national capital is facing water crisis amid daytemperature recordingclose to the 50 degrees Celsius.

Delhi Chief MinisterArvind Kejriwal had earlier blamed states sharing borders with New Delhi for reduced water supply.

Watch:Delhi heatwave: IMD says reading a sensor 'error'

"If the BJP talks to its governments in Haryana and UP and gets some water for Delhi for a month, then the people of Delhi will greatly appreciate this step of the BJP. Such scorching heat is not in anyone's control. But if we all work together, we can provide relief to the people from this?",Kejriwal wrote on social media platform X.

Meanwhile,Delhi LG VK Saxena said, "From the last few days, we can see the irresponsible attitude of the Delhi government towards the water crisis in Delhi. Today in Delhi, people are seen risking their lives and running behind tankers to get water. But the government is blaming other states for its failures. The Chief Minister's promise of 24-hour water supply in Delhi has so far proved to be a trick. Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are continuously supplying their fixed quota of water to Delhi."

(With inputs from agencies)