CM asks Khattar not to reduce water supply in summer

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has written to his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar requesting him not to reduce water supply during peak summer as it could lead to acute water shortage in the national Capital.

In a separate letter to L-G Anil Baijal, Kejriwal has requested him to persuade Haryana to continue the supply of same levels of water as it has been doing over the past two decades.

He requested the Lieutenant Governor to take up the matter with the prime minister and the union water resources minister.

“It is requested to maintain the current water supply, which Haryana has been maintaining for 22 years,” Kejriwal wrote his letter to Khattar on Thursday.

The CM said Delhi had been receiving 1133 cusecs of water from Haryana since 1996. However, for the first time, Haryana has contested Delhi’s claim, leading to a legal battle between the two neighbouring states.

A senior official in the Delhi Jal Board, which moved the apex court against Haryana, said Delhi had been facing shortage of drinking water supply since December 30, 2017.

“Initially, the problem was because of increased levels of ammonia in the water which the treatment plant Wazirabad could not handle and supply had to be curtailed. Then, from April 2, 2018, Haryana reduced the supply by around 120 cusecs,” the official said.

This had led to Wazirabad pond not being filled up to the desired level due to which drinking water production was affected at Wazirabad and Chandrawal Water Treatment Plants.

On Wednesday, however, the Haryana government assured the Supreme Court that it would maintain status quo on supply of Yamuna river water to the capital till May 21 and would decide on the Delhi government’s proposed request to continue the supply.

Demand of drinking water increases by 20% during the peak summer. Monsoon is expected to hit Delhi in July.

“If Haryana reduces water supply from May 21, it could lead to an unprecedented situation and water shortage in Delhi. Disruption in water supply from Haryana would affect the Chandrawal Water Treatment Plant, which supplies water to VIP areas of Delhi, including Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament, embassies of various countries and other major establishments,” Kejriwal wrote.