Delhi blames Haryana for recent water shortage

Even as entire north India reels under oppressive heat, a virtual war has broken out between Delhi and the neighbouring state Haryana over the water sharing issue vis-à-vis Munak Canal.

Even as entire north India reels under oppressive heat, a virtual war has broken out between Delhi and the neighbouring state Haryana over the water sharing issue vis-à-vis Munak Canal.

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On Wednesday, the Haiderpur water treatment plant (WTP) received eight per cent less water, said DJB spokesperson Sanjam Chima. On Tuesday, it had claimed that Haryana had provided as much as 22 million gallons per day (MGD) less.

Large parts of south, west and northwest Delhi faced water woes due to Tuesday’s shortage. “The situation has almost normalised. We are in talks with Haryana government,” Chima said.

However, Harmail Singh, Haryana’s engineer-in-chief, irrigation, claimed that they have always supplied 425 cusecs of water and on Tuesday, too, the supply to the water plant was not less than 425 cusecs.

Singh said that Haryana has always kept the Haiderpur and Wazirabad ponds full as per the capacity and claimed that “Haryana has never violated the Supreme Court directions”.

“But the Supreme Court never specified any quantum. The order is clear that there needs as much water to keep the level at the Wazirabad and Haiderpur plants to ensure production to full capacity. We have not even enhanced the capacity,” countered a DJB official.

Another bone of contention is the quantum of water that Haryana should send to Haiderpur and Wazirabad WTPs once the under construction Munak-Haiderpur concrete lined channel (CLC) is operational.

DJB has paid approximately Rs 400 crore to Haryana for Munak CLC to avoid seepage losses arising due to raw water flowing to Delhi through kutcha canal right now.

DJB has claimed that Haryana is not just agreeing to give 80 MGD water — that is saved after avoiding seepage loss — but also curtailing current supply to Delhi. “Haryana signed an MoU with us on this issue, now they can’t go back on their word,” said a DJB official.

Singh said, “We are not giving anything less than 610 cusecs to Delhi, which is its share from Munak. Once Munak CLC is operational, Delhi will get 610 cusecs but with a lesser seepage loss of 5 per cent.”

The issue is pending with the Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by P Chidambaram.