CM Kejriwal wants to meet Khattar on water-sharing
27 Feb 2015 12:00 AM GMT
The development comes a day after Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government halved power rates for up to 400 units and made 20,000 litres of water free for a month for Delhiites.
In his letter, Kejriwal informed Khattar that the Haryana irrigation department has substantially reduced the release of water, which could lead to major disruptions in drinking water supply in the national capital.
“It is heartening to know that recently some steps have been taken by both Haryana and Delhi to resolve the long pending issue of commissioning of Munak carrier lined channel (CLC).
“However, it has been brought to my notice that raw water releases by Haryana irrigation department in the Munak Canal have suddenly been reduced substantially leading to major disruption in production of drinking water supply at the water treatment plants of Delhi.
“The matter has repeatedly been brought to the attention of officers of Haryana irrigation department and Delhi Jal Board officers, but the supply has so far not been restored. Now, with the summer season drawing closer, this continued reduction in supply is bound to lead to a crisis situation in Delhi,” said in letter.
In the last paragraph of the letter: “I would also like to come to Chandigarh and meet you personally with my team of officers to discuss this issue.
On January 6, 2015, the Haryana government had given assurances to the Supreme Court that it would continue supplying water to the Munak Canal to maintain a regular supply.
Delhi Jal Board’s official said that Haryana is releasing hardly 10 to 14 MGD water. But the release of 80 MGD of water lies at the heart of the dispute. If Haryana releases 80 MGD of water, it will bring relief to nearly 40 lakh residents of South, South-west, West and North-west Delhi. This includes areas reeling under acute water shortage such as Sangam Vihar and Dwarka. Moreover, the three water treatment plants in Bawana, Okhla and Dwarka could not be utilised because of the dispute.
In his letter, Kejriwal informed Khattar that the Haryana irrigation department has substantially reduced the release of water, which could lead to major disruptions in drinking water supply in the national capital.
“It is heartening to know that recently some steps have been taken by both Haryana and Delhi to resolve the long pending issue of commissioning of Munak carrier lined channel (CLC).
“However, it has been brought to my notice that raw water releases by Haryana irrigation department in the Munak Canal have suddenly been reduced substantially leading to major disruption in production of drinking water supply at the water treatment plants of Delhi.
“The matter has repeatedly been brought to the attention of officers of Haryana irrigation department and Delhi Jal Board officers, but the supply has so far not been restored. Now, with the summer season drawing closer, this continued reduction in supply is bound to lead to a crisis situation in Delhi,” said in letter.
In the last paragraph of the letter: “I would also like to come to Chandigarh and meet you personally with my team of officers to discuss this issue.
On January 6, 2015, the Haryana government had given assurances to the Supreme Court that it would continue supplying water to the Munak Canal to maintain a regular supply.
Delhi Jal Board’s official said that Haryana is releasing hardly 10 to 14 MGD water. But the release of 80 MGD of water lies at the heart of the dispute. If Haryana releases 80 MGD of water, it will bring relief to nearly 40 lakh residents of South, South-west, West and North-west Delhi. This includes areas reeling under acute water shortage such as Sangam Vihar and Dwarka. Moreover, the three water treatment plants in Bawana, Okhla and Dwarka could not be utilised because of the dispute.
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