Delhi water crisis: AAP’s Atishi accuses BJP of stopping Yamuna flow, hatching ‘water conspiracy’

Delhi's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Wednesday (May 22) accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of neighbouring Haryana state of stopping the water flow of the Yamuna River.

Delhi water minister Atishi saidin a press conferencethat BJP was hatching a 'water conspiracy.'

"They (BJP) want to create a water crisis in the capital. I want to warn the people of Delhi that in the coming days till May 25, more such things will happen. They will do this to manipulate voters. I want to tell BJP that you cannot fool the people of Delhi," the AAP minister said.

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She also wrote a letter to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, demandinghis immediate intervention into the matter.

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"It has come to my notice that the water flow from Haryana to Delhi seems to be deliberately reduced. Our records show that there is a drastic drop in the water levels at the Wazirabad Barrage, indicating lower water levels of the Yamuna River which is the main lifeline of Delhi. The normal pond level should be maintained at a minimum of 674.50 feet. Our enquires have revealed that on 15.05.2024, the water levels were already 671.9 feet, which has been consistently reducing and has reached a critically dangerous level of 670.9 feet," Atishi wrote in the letter.

Hitting back at Atishi's allegations, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said it showed AAP is fearing defeat in the Lok Sabha elections.

"Fearing its defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, the AAP has come out with a new lie. When we raised the issue of the water supply crisis on Monday, the minister did not utter a word and now she is blaming the BJP," Sachdeva said.

Sachdeva further alleged, "Delhi CM Kejriwal had written a letter to her from Tihar a month ago to address the issues of water supply. She should tell what was done in the past month. The corruption and inaction of the AAP government is responsible for the shortage of water in Delhi."

BJP candidate from North-East Delhi, Manoj Tiwari, said the people of Delhi will give a befitting answer to Kejriwal in the Lok Sabha polls for the water crisis.

"... The truth is, that providing clean water, providing pensions to senior citizens, providing ration cards, clean stagnant water from colonies, and developing small roads is responsibility of the Delhi government... If their candidate has pointed out that the people of Delhi are not getting adequate water, people will give a befitting answer to not just Arvind Kejriwal but also that candidate..,"he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

(With inputs from agencies)