JOIN USThe Delhi-Haryana water war is likely to hot up in the coming days as the AAP government has accused the BJP-led Haryana government of doublespeak
on supplying Yamuna water to the city through the Munak Canal.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, reacting to an affidavit filed by Haryana in a court saying that it cannot ramp up water supply through the canal, said, “Haryana has been shifting its stand every now and then.”
“They are not respecting the arrangement that has been arrived at through deliberations,” he said.
Sisodia, however, claimed that despite limited supply of water from Haryana, there would not be a crisis in the city. “We will try to indulge in judicious use of the water we have,” he said.
The 102-km-long Munak Canal was built to save 80 million gallons per day (MGD) of water that was lost in the existing channel due to seepage. Both Delhi and Haryana were expected to gain from the saved water.
Chief Minister Kejriwal recently wrote to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to complain that the Haryana Irrigation Department has substantially reduced release of raw water, which could lead to major disruptions in production of drinking water in Delhi.
The Haryana government requested a court to direct Delhi not to waste water and plug leakages in its water distribution network.
A water treatment plant in Dwarka, which has seen trial runs over the last few months with Munak canal-supplied water, was inaugurated by Kejriwal on March 1.
Due to the alleged squeeze imposed by Haryana, the plant in Dwarka, which has a capacity of 40 MGD, may work only at 30-50 per cent of its capacity.
Underutilised plant
The underutilised 20 MGD Bawana treatment plant also is likely to gain only partially from the Munak Canal water.
Supply of water through Munak Canal was started on December 1 when the city was being ruled by the BJP-led central government.
The saffron party was hoping to win the Delhi elections and showcase the provision of Munak Canal water for Dwarka, along with two other, treatment plants as a major achievement, said AAP sources.
However, just before the February 7 Delhi Assembly elections, the Haryana government issued statements that its farmers could not be expected to suffer due to water shortage and other states should also contribute to Delhi’s raw water requirements.