UP yet to decide on releasing water to parched Delhi

Lucknow, Apr 4 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh government is still to decide on Delhi's demand to release 300 cusecs water to ease the difficulty of the national capital with the onslaught of summers.

State Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, who addressed a meeting of the Samajwadi Party state executive here, did not speak to the media, however his younger sibling and state PWD minister Shivpal Singh, however, claimed the CM was likely to speak with state irrigation minister on the issue.

When his attention was drawn to Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit's reported plans to move court on the issue, Shivpal Singh said the CM would take an appropriate decision shortly.

On Sunday, Union Minister of Water Resources Saifuddin Soz had urged the UP CM to release 300 cusecs water from Tehri Dam to ease the difficult drinking water situation in Delhi.

In a telephonic conversation with the CM, Pro Soz said, ''The provision of drinking water is a crucial human responsibility of all governments and we must jointly strive to help the citizens of Delhi by way of augmenting water supply.'' He felt Delhi's water requirements were urgent and genuine and something needed to be done speedily, otherwise, there was ''every apprehension of the water crises deepening further.'' In a letter to the UP CM last month, the Union Minister had suggested if it was not possible for UP to spare 300 cusecs at present, it should, at least release 200 cusecs immediately to help Delhi Jal Board to tide over the present crisis.

Mulayam Singh Yadav had assured Prof Soz he would consider the matter afresh and apprise him accordingly.

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