The situation in Delhi is becoming more intense by the day. Allegations of lying are being thrown around as the city grapples with a severe water shortage. On Tuesday, the BJP accused Delhi Water Minister Atishi of not telling the truth. In response, Atishi claimed that the BJP-ruled Haryana government was the one being dishonest. Adding to the controversy, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena stepped in, asserting that the AAP was misrepresenting the facts. It’s a complex and escalating dispute, with each side pointing fingers as Delhi’s water crisis continues.
In an apparent reference to the alleged liquor scam, in which Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal is behind bars, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said, “You (the AAP government and Ms Atishi) have not been able to repair pipelines despite being in power for over 10 years. If you can’t stop leakage and the theft of water, what are you in the government for, only for indulging in corruption?”
“Water theft is taking place with the protection of the Delhi government. If anybody is responsible for the people of Delhi having to suffer because of the lack of water, it is the Delhi Jal Board, its officials and the Delhi government,” he added.
Reiterating her point, Ms. Atishi emphasized that Haryana isn’t releasing Delhi’s share of water through the Munak canal. She also mentioned that the Supreme Court had directed Haryana to ensure the flow of water from Himachal Pradesh to the Wazirabad Barrage. However, she noted that the water levels there have been dropping ever since.
“But Haryana’s conspiracy hasn’t stopped there. According to the decision by the Upper Yamuna River Board, Haryana has to release 1,050 cusecs of water, but Delhi has been getting less than that for the past few days. The Haryana government was lying that they have released as much as they were supposed to, but its affidavit filed in the Supreme Court has proved otherwise,” she claimed.
“In the annexure, it is written that the quantity of water released came down days before May 25, when the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi were supposed to take place… The Haryana government’s own figures and affidavit have exposed their lies to the people of Delhi and the country. We will place all these figures before the Supreme Court tomorrow and I will write to the Haryana chief minister today,” the minister asserted. Lieutenant Governor Saxena mentioned that he had a conversation with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who assured him that Delhi’s share of water is being released daily.
Lieutenant Governor Saxena said he has spoken to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and was informed that Delhi’s share of water is being released every day.
“Spoke to Hon’ble CM, Haryana, Shri Nayab Saini ji yesterday. He reiterated that water was being provided to Delhi as per allocated share and assured of all possible help, despite the state’s own constraints due to the ongoing heat wave,” the Lieutenant Governor said in a post on X.
Mr. Saxena met with Ms. Atishi and her Delhi cabinet colleague Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday, assuring them that he would address the water supply issue with the Haryana government. He also urged them not to engage in a “blame game.”
The LG pointed out that the Delhi government was at fault due to water being stolen by tankers. In response, Ms. Atishi stated that the water reaching Delhi is less than expected.
“This means that tankers are filling up water in Haryana. Does the LG want ministers from Delhi to go to Haryana and stop that?” she asked