The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government has requested the Supreme Court for additional supply of water from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh for a month amid an acute shortage in the national capital.
Several areas in the city are reeling under severe water crisis and people are forced to wait in long queues amid searing heatwave conditions.
The capital is facing a water shortage due to unprecedented summer heat, with temperatures hovering around the 50 degree-Celsius mark in most parts of the city.
Delhi blames Haryana for water crisis
On Thursday (May 30), Delhi’s Water Minister Atishi said they will approach the apex court over Haryana not releasing the share of water of the national capital, which allegedly has led to a crisis situation.
Atishi said Delhi is staring at an “emergency situation” and announced a slew of emergency measures to tackle the crisis, including a ban on the use of drinking water for washing cars and at construction sites.
“If we get at least 50 MGD (million gallons per day) water in the Wazirabad pond, it will provide some relief,” Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, adding that the health and water departments will play the most important role during this heatwave.
Meanwhile, Kejriwal in a post on X said, “I request everyone with folded hands that instead of doing politics at this time, let us come together and provide relief to the people of Delhi. If BJP talks to its governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and gets some water for Delhi for a month, then the people of Delhi will greatly appreciate this step of the BJP’s.
Kejriwal’s appeal to Delhiites
“We appeal to Delhiites to cooperate with the government. Use as little water as possible, do not waste water. Only when all Delhiites come together, we will be able to face this crisis,” Atishi said.
What Delhi is doing to address water crisis
The minister informed that a central water tanker control room is being set up in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and it will be monitored by an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.
“There will be a central command and control centre. Any Delhi resident who wants a water tanker should dial 1916. From 1916, the request will go to our water tanker war room and from there, tankers will be provided to places where there is a shortage of water supply,” she said.
The DJB has announced that a fine of Rs 2,000 would be slapped on anyone found wasting water.
Atishi also said from June 5, an ADM-level officer and an SDM-level officer will be stationed in each of the 11 water zones of the national capital.
“Why June 5? Because all the ADMs and SDMs are busy in election duty. These officers will form a quick response team. Wherever there are water-shortage hotspots, these ADMs, SDMs and their tehsildars will be fully available to deliver tankers and solve the problem,” she explained.
Atishi also said a special team of the DJB’s electrical department is being formed and it will work round the clock to ensure that no borewell is damaged or dysfunctional.
With inputs from agencies
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Delhi water crisis: Kejriwal govt urges SC for water supply from Haryana, UP, Himachal
