Politics over water not good, says Kejriwal

Haryana supplies around 50 per cent of total water Delhi requires daily and any cut in supplies may result in severe water crisis in the city.

In a letter to Kejriwal on Thursday, Haryana’s Irrigation Minister O P Dhankar said his state will not be able to continue supply of water to Delhi as he stood against the interests of the farmers and people of Haryana. Punjab is locked in a fierce battle with Haryana over decades-old water sharing agreement. Political parties in Punjab are opposing supply of water to Haryana through the Sutlej-Yamuna canal which has been constructed at a cost of over Rs 700 crore. The AAP is hopeful of making a strong debut in the Punjab Assembly polls and its chief Kejriwal had taken Punjab’s side in the water dispute between the two states.

“Engaging in politics over water is not good as people from Punjab and Haryana are also own people. Everyone should get water,” Kejriwal told reporters here. Asked what will happen if Haryana refused to give water to Delhi, he said the state cannot take such a decision. In his letter, Dhankar on Thursday wrote: “Seeing your stand (opposing the construction of SYL canal in Punjab) Haryana will not be able to deliver your share of water in Delhi since you have stood against the interests of the farmers and people of Haryana. “For Delhi’s needs of water you may take the trouble of getting your own canal constructed from Nangal Dam and Tajewala Headwork’s (Yamunanagar) so that Delhi’s share of water reaches the national Capital with your efforts,” Dhankar had also said.

There had been acute water shortage in Delhi since last month following the Jat agitation. The situation had worsened when the agitators had taken control of the Munak Canal. The protesters were removed by security forces. However, supply of water was hit as the agitators had damaged the canal.

Meanwhile, Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra on Friday said that Yamuna does not belong to Haryana alone but the entire country and giving water to the city was not a “favour” by some minister.  

Hitting back at Dhankar, Mishra said that the former does not have any “understanding of laws”.

“Haryana minister perhaps has not read the Constitution.

“Secondly, he does not have the understanding of laws and third, he is not aware about the dignity of his post. 

“Delhi is not getting water because some minister is doing a favour to us. Delhi is getting water because the Supreme Court has ordered. Yamuna doesn’t belong to Haryana but to the entire country,” Mishra added.