CM urges people to save water to help drought-ridden Latur

The Delhi government on Monday decided to send water tankers to drought-affected Latur district and other areas of Maharashtra. A high level meeting of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) was convened to finalise modalities to save water and send it to the drought-affected regions in special trains.

“Severe water crisis in Latur, we all should help. Are all Delhiites ready to save some water daily to send it for our people in Latur?” tweeted Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday afternoon. It received an overwhelming response on social media with Delhi’s Water Minister Kapil Mishra agreeing to the proposal. “We are ready sir. We can save water and send it for our brothers and sisters in Latur,” replied Kapil Mishra in his tweet. He also summoned the chairperson of DJB and other senior officers for a high level meeting and directed them to decide the quantity of water that can be saved daily in the city.

“We will soon approach to Central Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu to provide us trains to transport the water from Delhi,” informed Mishra. However, sending water to Maharashtra could lead to a very uncomfortable situation for Delhi, as the national Capital itself depends on Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for its drinking water requirements. Latur district in Maharashtra is facing severe water crisis, even as the district administration has imposed Section 144 to maintain law and order. The Maharashtra government has enforced strict water rationing in Latur and several districts in Marathwada region. 

According to government reports, Maharashtra has been facing severe draught for a long time as several natural water bodies including ponds, lakes and wells already dried up before April. The region is yet to face scorching heat for the rest of April, May and June before monsoon arrives.