SC raps Yamuna panel over water supply

NEW DELHI: Pulling up the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) for not doing its job to regulate water supply among beneficiary states, the Supreme Court asked the panel on Friday to look into Delhi Jal Board’s (DJB) grievance against Haryana over non-supply of sufficient drinking water.

A bench of justices MB Lokur and Deepak Gupta told the board that it was UYRB’S job to ensure water distribution and asked it to give suggestions on the issue by May 16. DJB filed an application before the top court complaining that Haryana has violated its order to maintain a constant supply of water to Delhi.

Set up by the Centre in 1995, one of the main functions of UYRB is to regulate and supply of water from all storages and barrages till the Okhla barrage.

Why is the Upper Yamuna River Board not doing their job? What are they doing,” asked jus- tice Lokur. He told the membersecretary, present in the courtroom, to step forward and asked him why the board wasn’t meeting to sort out the differences.

“The board is supposed to do its job. We do not know why they (UYRB) do not want to do their job? Why should we do their job?” justice Lokur said, directing the board to decide on water sharing between Haryana and Delhi.

Haryana’s counsel told the bench they were supplying water to Delhi and would not alter the status quo. The lawyer said there was clear-cut allocation of water and Haryana was supplying water, which was more than what was stipulated.

But DJB counsel said the issue before the court was about continuation of the stream of drinking water. It’s falling short of 120 cusecs of water for daily drinking purpose. Haryana had on May 1 told the court that it was facing “huge distress” for water as it was receiving only half the supply from Hathni Kund barrage.