Delhi-Haryana water sharing row: Kejriwal seeks Modi's intervention

The Delhi government earlier contended that Haryana was supplying Delhi only 330 cusecs of water per day as against 450 cusecs per day which was agreed upon between the two sides.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought the latter's intervention in the water sharing dispute with Haryana. Kejriwal's letter urged Modi to use his 'good offices' to persuade Haryana to to continue supplying same levels of water that it has been supplying for 22 years till the matter is finally decided by the court.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (May 16) said the dispute between Haryana and Delhi over sharing of Yamuna water should be adjudicated by the Upper Yamuna River Board which is a statutory body set up to decide such issues, reported TOI.

"Delhi has been receiving 1133 cusecs of water from Haryana since 1996. However recently, for the first time in 22 years, Haryana has contested Delhi's right over this water and partially stopped water supply to Delhi," the letter said.

"Disruption in water supply from Haryana would affect Chandrawal Water Treatment plant, which supplies water to NCMC areas. VIP areas like President's House, Parliament, Embassies and major establishments like Railway Stations, Hospitals etc are located in NDMC areas," the letter further said.

Here is Kejriwal's letter to Modi:

The Kejriwal government had earlier sought apex court's intervention to direct Haryana to supply 450 cusecs of potable water daily to Wazirabad barrage for supply to Delhi as per its 1996 order. The Upper Yamuna River Board on its part informed the bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Navin Sinha that it has constituted a committee to study the river flow and water sharing among the riparian states.

Delhi had rushed to the Supreme Court on March 23 saying that the capital was staring at a water crisis as the neighbouring state was no honouring the 1996 SC directive to release 450 cusecs of water daily to Delhi.

The Delhi government earlier contended that Haryana was supplying Delhi only 330 cusecs of water per day as against 450 cusecs per day which was agreed upon between the two sides. It said the situation would "escalate" as the temperature rose with the onset of summer and the demand for drinking water shot up, reported TOI.

Meanwhile, the Haryana government assured the court it would maintain status quo on supply of Yamuna water to Delhi till May 21.