The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear the Delhi Jal Board’s petition alleging that the city was facing an acute shortage of water as Haryana was not supplying enough to the city. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud scheduled the hearing for April 2, PTI reported.
The Delhi government moved the Supreme Court on Friday, alleging that Haryana was supplying 120 cusecs less water to Delhi instead of the 450 cusecs it is supposed to supply. In its petition, the Delhi Jal Board has sought “most urgent interim directions” to Haryana to release adequate potable water to the Wazirabad Reservoir ever day, as per a 1996 Supreme Court order, The Hindu reported.
“Delhi is in the midst of an acute water crisis owing to stopping of supply of water by Haryana in the Yamuna, which is meant for drinking purposes in Delhi,” the plea read. It also accused Haryana of defying the 1996 Supreme Court ruling and taking “undue advantage of being an upper-riparian state”, according to The Indian Express.
Over the past few weeks, the Delhi Jal Board’s water treatment plants have been functioning below capacity or not functioning at all because the level of water in the Yamuna had dropped and the polluted water released by Haryana could not be treated. As a result, the government has been rationing its water supply, which had affected large parts of Delhi, especially areas in north and central Delhi.
On Saturday, a day after the Delhi Jal Board filed the petition, MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party protested outside Haryana Bhavan in the city. The party alleged that Haryana was exploiting its position as an upper-riparian state and “choking the Capital’s water supply”, The Indian Express reported.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!