SC Orders Emergency Upper Yamuna River Board Meeting On June 5 To Address Delhi Water Crisis

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered an urgent meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Board to take place on June 5 to address Delhi’s water scarcity problem. The hearing will continue on June 6.

The Supreme Court has requested a status report on the resolution of Delhi’s water scarcity by June 6.

The Solicitor General argued that Delhi needs to reduce wastage, claiming that 50% of the water supplied is wasted.

Himachal Pradesh has stated it is ready to release excess water to Delhi.

On June 2, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini rejected the Delhi government’s accusation that his state was not providing the national capital’s share of water, asserting that his administration is supplying water to Delhi beyond the agreed-upon amount.

The BJP leader urged the AAP government to focus on proper management and distribution of the resources.

“(Arvind) Kejriwal is misleading people. Earlier too, he raised this issue. They want to hide their own shortcomings,” Saini said, when asked about the AAP government’s allegations.

“We are giving water to Delhi over and above the agreed-upon quantity,” Saini told reporters in Karnal.

Delhi is currently experiencing a severe water shortage, with the AAP government recently accusing Haryana of not releasing the national capital’s share of water.

The BJP has blamed the AAP government for the crisis, asserting that Haryana is supplying 1,049 cusecs of water from the Yamuna, which exceeds the agreed-upon amount.

In a letter to Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat a few days ago, Delhi Water Minister Atishi noted a significant drop in the water level at the Wazirabad barrage, attributing it to Haryana not releasing the required quantity into the Yamuna.

On Friday, May 31, the Delhi government also approached the Supreme Court, seeking an order for Haryana to release surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh to alleviate the national capital’s acute water shortage amid the scorching heat.