Haryana assures Delhi it won’t stop water for 10 days

88 TUBEWELLS, WATER PLANTS SEALED IN F’BAD

NEW DELHI: Delhi received a breather for 10 days from an impending water crisis. Responding to the requests made by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to Haryana’s chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on May 17, the Haryana government assured the Delhi government on Monday that it won’t curtail water supply for another 10 days.

At least two senior officials of the Haryana government confirmed that the state’s chief secretary DS Dhesi has written a letter to Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash in this regard on Monday.

“In the letter, it has been said that Haryana won’t curtail water supply for another 10 days. A request has also been made to Delhi to withdraw the cases, which has filed against Haryana over the water crisis,” a senior official of Haryana’s irrigation department, who refused to be quoted, said.

While Prakash said he is yet to receive the letter, Dhesi refused to comment on the issue.

The move comes as a relief for Delhi, as the city was staring at a water crisis from May 22. The Haryana government had assured the Supreme Court that it would maintain status quo on supply of Yamuna water to Delhi till May 21. According to estimates, water demand is said to increase by at least 20% in the summer months in Delhi.

Apprehending that the Haryana government could curtail water supply from May 22, Kejriwal had written to his Haryana FARIDABAD: In order to meet the rising water demand in Faridabad, officials launched a crackdown on illegal tubewells and RO plants in the city. Over the last few days, 88 illegal units have been sealed, officials said.

Municipal officials said illegally run tubewells were drawing water for commercial purposes while residents were facing water scarcity. In the last few days, Municipal Corporation of Faridabad officials conducted inspections in NIT, Ballabhgarh and Old Faridabad zones and busted illegal units. counterpart requesting him not to reduce water supply. Kejriwal had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the L-G.

“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 Chandrawal Water Treatment plant, which supplies water to VIP areas of Delhi including Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament, embassies and other major establishments,” Kejriwal had written in his letter to Haryana CM on May 17.