Repair canal that brings water to capital: HC

The order came after the HC was told that under the MoU between Delhi and Haryana, repairs to the canal will be undertaken by Haryana and the cost will be borne by Delhi ◗

New Delhi, March 13: Taking note of wastage of water supplied by Haryana to Delhi through a sub- branch canal as it needs repairs, the Delhi high court has directed both the states to take steps to carry out repair work immediately.

A bench of acting chief justice Gita Mittal and justice C. Hari Shankar directed the Delhi government to release forthwith the amount sanctioned for the repairs after Haryana said the entire process of awarding tender for the work will be completed in a month after getting the money.

The order came after the court was told that under the Memorandum of Undertaking ( MoU) between the two governments,

repairs to the canal will be undertaken by Haryana and the cost will be borne by the Delhi government.

The court asked amicus curiae and senior advocate Rakesh Khanna to inspect the canal and submit his report before the next date of hearing on May 2.

During the hearing, Haryana claimed that the government owed it 280 crore in arrears and it can’t carry out repairs till payment for it is received.

Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, appearing for the DJB, opposed Haryana's contention on arrears and said funds for repair work of the Delhi sub branch canal have been sanctioned.

Mr Khanna told the bench that the entire quantity of water, as per the MoU and court orders, was not being released by Haryana.

According to the MoU and earlier court orders, Haryana has to release 719 cusecs of water per day in the Munak canal and 330 cusecs per day in the Delhi sub branch canal, the court was told.