Dikshit, Hooda talk, but water woes stay
19 Jun 2012 2:31 AM GMT
Despite intervention by union minister for water resources Pawan Bansal, sharing Yamuna water is still a bone of contention between Delhi and Haryana. On Monday, Bansal attended a meeting between Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and her Haryana counterpart Bhupinder Singh Hooda, held at the residence of Dikshit.
The meeting, which lasted for more than two hours, failed to make any major breakthrough in ending the prevailing water crisis in the city. Later, talking to Millennium Post, Hooda said, 'We have increased the release of water to Delhi from last year. They are already getting more than their entitled share. But we understand that due to prevailing heatwave, demand has gone up in the national capital. We'll see what else we can do to help resolve this crisis. I am sure talks with Delhi would continue. She is my elder sister and there is no reason why I wouldn't take her calls.'
Delhi has accused Haryana of triggering severe water crisis by cutting down the supply of raw water to the city while the neighbouring state has been maintaining that it is supplying almost double the entitled share to the national capital.
Sources said a consensus could not be arrived at the meeting as both states held onto their respective positions. They also revealed that in the meeting Hooda advised his counterpart to focus more on water management and reduce wastage. Dikshit, on the other hand, demanded more water from Haryana saying the national capital cannot be deprived of its 'legitimate' requirement of water.
Sources said Bansal asked both the chief ministers to take 'flexible' positions and resolve their differences through talks. The meeting was also attended by Delhi Minister Arvinder Singh, Delhi Chief Secretary P K Tripathi and other senior officers concerned. The Haryana chief minister was accompanied by the principal secretary to CM, irrigation secretary and other officers concerned.
Sources also said that the chief secretaries of both states would meet again soon to discuss the matter and find an amicable solution.
Meanwhile, both the chief ministers expressed their confidence that the meeting has helped in laying the ground work, which would go a long way in overcoming the present situation. 'We are hopeful that the things will be settled soon. A solution is being worked out,' a statement from Dikshit's office said.
The meeting, which lasted for more than two hours, failed to make any major breakthrough in ending the prevailing water crisis in the city. Later, talking to Millennium Post, Hooda said, 'We have increased the release of water to Delhi from last year. They are already getting more than their entitled share. But we understand that due to prevailing heatwave, demand has gone up in the national capital. We'll see what else we can do to help resolve this crisis. I am sure talks with Delhi would continue. She is my elder sister and there is no reason why I wouldn't take her calls.'
Delhi has accused Haryana of triggering severe water crisis by cutting down the supply of raw water to the city while the neighbouring state has been maintaining that it is supplying almost double the entitled share to the national capital.
Sources said a consensus could not be arrived at the meeting as both states held onto their respective positions. They also revealed that in the meeting Hooda advised his counterpart to focus more on water management and reduce wastage. Dikshit, on the other hand, demanded more water from Haryana saying the national capital cannot be deprived of its 'legitimate' requirement of water.
Sources said Bansal asked both the chief ministers to take 'flexible' positions and resolve their differences through talks. The meeting was also attended by Delhi Minister Arvinder Singh, Delhi Chief Secretary P K Tripathi and other senior officers concerned. The Haryana chief minister was accompanied by the principal secretary to CM, irrigation secretary and other officers concerned.
Sources also said that the chief secretaries of both states would meet again soon to discuss the matter and find an amicable solution.
Meanwhile, both the chief ministers expressed their confidence that the meeting has helped in laying the ground work, which would go a long way in overcoming the present situation. 'We are hopeful that the things will be settled soon. A solution is being worked out,' a statement from Dikshit's office said.
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