Water crisis stares at Delhi yet again

Politics over Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal is going to be a costly affair for the Kejriwal government in the national capital. While AAP leaders and volunteers are busy over the propaganda war on social media with #AAPWaterRevolution for providing relief on inflated water bills in Delhi, the Haryana government on Friday reduced 150 cusec water supply to the city. The reduction in supply is going to lead to an acute shortage of drinking water in Dwarka, Rohini and southwest areas of the national capital.

Sensing trouble, Mr Kejriwal said there should be no politics over water. He said everyone should get water as people from Punjab and Haryana were also “like our own” in the national capital.

The Haryana government locked horns with the AAP administration after chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said he was against the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal as Punjab was not having enough water to share with other states. Haryana water minister Om Prakasah Dhankar had hit back saying that his state would not be able to supply water to Delhi.

According to sources in the Delhi Jal Board, Haryana has already reduced water supply of 150 cusec to Delhi in view of ongoing political tussle between the two states. This reduction in the supply is going to lead to severe water shortage in several parts in the city. Delhi primarily depends on drinking water supplied from Haryana to meet its daily requirements. In all, Delhi gets 796 cusec water from Haryana.

Earlier in the day, Mr Kejriwal said: “Doing politics over water is not good as people from Punjab and Haryana are also our own like that of Delhi. Everyone should get water.” When pointed out that Haryana refused to give water to Delhi, he told reporters they have to supply water to the national capital.

On Thursday, Mr Dhankar in a letter to Mr Kejriwal had said: “The Delhi chief minister has opposed the construction of SYL canal which was to be constructed so that Haryana could get water through Bhakra Nangal Dam. We supply water to Delhi through the western Yamuna canal for which we have to reduce supply to our farmers We have told the Delhi CM to construct his own canal system to bring water from Nangal Dam and Tajewala to Delhi”.

Mr Dhankar had stated: “Water is lying available in the Nangal Dam for Haryana and Delhi, but we don’t have any resource to supply it and you (Kejriwal) opposed our only resource SYL canal in Punjab for your political gains. By doing this, you in fact stood against the interest of the people of Delhi.”