SC slams Haryana over apathy in sharing water

INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF WATER HAS AFFECTED AROUND 20 LAKH PEOPLE IN DELHI

NEWDELHI: Irked over the Haryana government’s stand that it would release more water to Delhi if only the latter accepted the minutes of the meeting held between the two states on March 28, the Supreme Court ordered personal presence of Haryana chief secretary on April 23 and ordered the state to release water forthwith.

A bench led by Justice MB Lokur said it was shocking to see the apathy shown by authorities in dealing with the water woes. “People will die. But no urgency is being shown by you people,” the bench shot back at the counsel for Haryana when he made the statement.

Senior officials of the DJB said that as the water level in the Wazirabad reservoir fell due to inadequate supply from Haryana, around 20 lakh people living in north, north-west and central Delhi were affected over the past one and half months at least.

DJB had disputed the minutes of the March 28 meeting that was convened by the secretary, Union ministry of water resources, to resolve the water sharing dispute between the two states. The move came after Delhi Jal Board (DJB) approached the top court with a plea that Haryana had breached its agreement to supply 450 cusecs of water every day and only 330 cusecs was being released. This, it said, would lead to water crisis in summer season, when the city witnesses a surge in the demand for drinking water.

“We are not demanding anything illegitimate. It is our right. But now that the SC has directed the Haryana government we would have to wait and watch. Earlier too the Haryana government started supplying water from April 2 but then suddenly curtailed the supply again,” said a senior official of the DJB.

Board representatives and Haryana government participated in the meeting. However, on March 16, the board said the minutes did not “reflect the correct states of affairs.”

The minutes recorded that there was no violation of any top court order by Haryana over water supply to Delhi and advised the DJB to make a formal request for more water. On March 16 Justice Lokur’s bench had asked the board to place a formal request and also sought a clarification over the minutes from the secretary after DJB claimed it was prepared by a junior officer.

Central government counsel Wasim Qadri confirmed on Thursday that the minutes were approved by the secretary of the Union ministry. DJB lawyer told the court that as per the court’s suggestion a formal request had been placed. When Justice Lokur enquired from Haryana government counsel, the latter said the plea is under consideration and the demand would be met if Delhi agreed to the minutes of the meeting. At this the court summoned the chief secretary.

It all started in December when the Haryana government started curtailing water.

“But as it was winters and evaporation of river water was less the effect could not be felt. Later, because of curtailed water supply, ammonia levels started rising in January and February. Then when the mercury started rising the water crisis aggravated,” said a DJB official.