The National Capital, Delhi has been dealing with a dual crisis this summer, Heatwave and Water Crisis. The Delhi government moved to the Supreme Court for immediate intervention, citing the acute shortage and the need for additional water supplies.
Today, the vacation bench of Supreme Court of India, comprising Justices PK Mishra and KV Vishwanathan, directed the Himachal Pradesh government to release 137 cusecs of surplus water to aid Delhi. It also mandates the Haryana government to facilitate the unhindered flow of this water to Delhi.
“Since Himachal has no objection, we direct that it shall transfer 137 cusecs from upstream so water reaches Hathnikund barrage and reaches Delhi through Wazirabad. As and when the surplus water is released by the State of Himachal Pradesh with prior intimation, the State of Haryana shall facilitate the flow of water from Hathnikund to Wazirabad so it reaches Delhi without obstruction so the residents get drinking water," the bench said.
The Supreme Court's decision comes as a relief to Delhi, which has been grappling with severe water shortages in addition to severe heatwave. With temperatures soaring to nearly 50 degrees Celsius in some areas, the demand for water in the city has surged dramatically.
SC directed the Upper Yamuna River Board to measure the water released by Himachal, and asked the Delhi government to ensure no wastage of water,
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for June 10.
Himachal Pradesh's Role
The Himachal Pradesh government, which has no objections to sharing its surplus water, has been directed to release water to ensure that it reaches the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana.
From there, Haryana is tasked with facilitating the flow to Delhi's Wazirabad barrage. This cooperation is crucial as Himachal Pradesh does not share a direct physical boundary with Delhi, necessitating the transit of water through Haryana.
Delhi Government Allegations on Haryana
Delhi's Water Minister, Atishi, welcomed the Supreme Court's order, calling it a victory for the people of Delhi. In a post on X, Atishi said, "I salute the Hon'ble Supreme Court for standing with the people of Delhi during this unprecedented water crisis. This is a time that calls for coordinated effort above all else, and the SC order marks a victory for the people of Delhi and their right to water."
Earlier, Atishi requested the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments to release additional water for Delhi for at least a month. In an official letter to the state governments, Atishi said that if Delhi can get additional water till the arrival of monsoon, then it can help solve the water crisis in a major way. Talking to the media, the Water Minister said that the heat wave in Delhi has further worsened this crisis.
The Delhi Government has blamed the Haryana Government for providing less water to Delhi.
It said that it has already raised the issue of unrelenting heat and the consequent water crisis in the national capital with Haryana and has requested it to release the surplus water in the Wazirabad barrage, however, Haryana is yet to accede to such request.
Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged Haryana was providing less water to Delhi.
"So, we talked to the Himachal Pradesh government. I spoke to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and he was ready to provide water to Delhi. However, the Haryana government was not providing a path for the water, which forced the Delhi government to go to the Supreme Court.
"…if Himachal Pradesh is willing to provide water and Delhi is willing to take it, why is Haryana blocking the route? We thank the HP government and the apex court," he said.
Virendra Sachdeva, the chief of the Delhi BJP, accused AAP, he said that the story of the water scarcity is for political purposes and stated that Delhi already gets enough water from nearby states. In addition, he demanded improved upkeep of water features and the suppression of water theft, accusing the Delhi government of mismanaging its water resources.
The bench observed that there should be no politics on water and said that if Himachal Pradesh is willing to supply water, then the Haryana government should not have any problem in facilitating the flow of water to Delhi, as per PTI.
Overall, The Supreme Court's order for Himachal Pradesh to release excess water and Haryana to facilitate its flow is an important step toward alleviating Delhi's ongoing severe water crisis. In addition to providing water to the nation's capital immediately, this intervention establishes a standard for collaborative governance when it comes to resource management. The next few days will be crucial in determining how well these steps are carried out and whether they can end Delhi's water problems in the long run.
(Inputs from agencies)
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