The Haryana Government which is contemplating curtailing water supply to Delhi by as much as 60 per cent says that it is even ready to face contempt charges of the Supreme Court.
Haryana Financial Commissioner R.N. Parashar, incharge of irrigation department also, told Hindustan Times that the Supreme Court had passed an interim order on supplying extra water to Delhi without specifying the quantity. “The order was passed 12 years ago and Haryana was not been given an opportunity to present its side of the case or the changed ground reality,” he said.
“We would welcome the opportunity of the case being heard in the SC even if it is in the context of contempt charges. The case has not been heard for the last 12 years ever since Justice Kuldip Singh of the Supreme Court passed an interim order asking Haryana to supply water to Delhi beyond its share in 1996,” Parashar added.
The matter has also been taken up with Central Water Commission. “We had made it clear before Central Water Commission in a meeting called by Principal Secretary TKA Nair in Delhi that the national capital must share the burden of shortage of water in the Yamuna. It was decided that Delhi will be given water subject to availability,” Parashar said.
{{/usCountry}}The matter has also been taken up with Central Water Commission. “We had made it clear before Central Water Commission in a meeting called by Principal Secretary TKA Nair in Delhi that the national capital must share the burden of shortage of water in the Yamuna. It was decided that Delhi will be given water subject to availability,” Parashar said.
{{/usCountry}}Haryana PWD (B&R) and Irrigation Minister Capt. Ajay Singh Yadav also indicated curtailment in water supply to Delhi during his visit to Gurgaon last week. The minister said that Delhi was drawing 1,100 cusecs water from Yamuna, much more than the agreed upon figure of 525 cusecs.
The minister said availability of water in Bhakhra Dam had reduced from 2.2 million acre feet (MAF) to .66 MAF this year.
He added, “The outflow in the dam is higher than inflow because of poor monsoon. This has resulted in low water levels in Yamuna from which Haryana is supposed to draw two third.”