Delhi CM asks Hry to release water amid shortage

NEW DELHI: The national capital on Friday continued to reel from the combined impact of the heatwave and a water supply shortfall that is becoming increasingly grave with every passing day.

Cognisant of the crisis, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday appealed to Haryana to release additional water into the Yamuna “on humanitarian grounds”, even as the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) said the supply in the city is down by more than 100 MGD (million gallons per day), severely impacting a large number of neighbourhoods and colonies. DJB vice-chairman Saurabh Bharadwaj on Friday visited the Wazirabad barrage to inspect the almost dry river. “The water depth at Wazirabad has reduced from its normal level of 8ft, on average, to this year’s lowest point of 0.5ft. As on Friday, the water depth is about six inches,” Bharadwaj said.

DJB has a summer target of supplying 1,000MGD water against an estimated demand of 1,380MGD.

On Thursday, there was a supply shortfall of 85MGD, which increased to 100MGD by Friday.

The matter also came up during the meeting between Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Friday. Kejriwal said, “We do not want to get into the issue of whether adequate water is being released (as per agreements). Provide us water to meet our needs on a humanitarian basis. We have to see just how much water is needed by Delhi and how much can be provided by our neighbours.”

The LG’s office also issued a statement saying: “The LG has assured the CM that he would take up the issue at all appropriate levels to address it in the interim. It was also decided that a meeting of all concerned departments will be held in presence of the LG and the chief minister on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, wherein the officers will be asked to present their concrete plans.”

Over the past month, DJB has issued at least seven water advisories to general public warning against imminent water shortage.