CHANDIGARH: With a view to amicably resolve the issue of supply of water by Haryana to Delhi, the Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has drawn the attention of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to the current alleged shortage of about 60 MGD stating that it is just about 6.7 per cent of the total treatment capacity of more than 900 MGD. This, he added, can easily be resolved through internal actions of Delhi Jal Board (DJB).
In a demi official letter sent to Kejriwal as a reply to his letter, Khattar said, “I am told that complete facts are perhaps not being presented before you. You may like to pose a simple question to your officers viz which of the following three calculations maximizes Delhi's water entailment from Haryana. These are (i) worked out as per share and allocation of Delhi (ii) worked out as per orders of Supreme Court and (iii) worked out as per orders of the Delhi High Court.
Khattar further said, “If you get an unambiguous answer, please do share it with me. The task of maintaining a particular level of Wazirabad pond, has to be performed by DJB itself. After operationalization of CLC, Haryana is giving entire supply at Delhi Contact Point Bawana itself. We have acceded to request of Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) to supply 120 Cusecs through DD-8 for the current summer only. Delhi must make its own arrangement from the next year onwards as no supplies would be made through DD-8 by Haryana on account of reasons explained in detail in our reply before the Supreme Court.’’ He also pointed out the controversial stance of Delhi Government by referring to demi official letter written by Mr Kejriwal on May 16.
Khhat said in reply today, “At the outset, let me draw your attention to your statement after presentation of Budget for the year 2018-19 in the Assembly. You were quoted by Hindustan Times that "there is no shortage of water in Delhi". Surprisingly, on the same day the Delhi Jai Board filed a petition in the Supreme Court alleging shortage of raw water at Wazirabad. I hope you would ponder over the contradiction. We have been discharging all our obligations set forth by Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) in terms of share and allocation of water to Delhi. We decided to release 120 Cusecs of additional raw water to Delhi via DD-8 upon a request of Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, I wish to emphasize that due to acute shortage of water in the river Yamuna, Haryana has to shift to a five group rotation instead of four groups every January. Despite the consequent adverse impact on drinking water supplies to thousands of our villages and several towns, we have never reduced the supply to Delhi. In fact, presently we are supplying 120 Cusecs over and above our obligations. It is a harsh fact that the issue of shortage of raw water at Wazirabad and its impact on supplies of VVIP areas is being raised by the DJB every year for the past 20 odd years. The currently alleged shortage of about 60 MGD is just about 6.7 per cent of the total treatment capacity of more than 900 MGD. This can easily be resolved through internal actions of DJB."
Khattar further added, “As for your request, we were supplying about 1050 Cusecs from Munak when Delhi decided to drag Haryana into multiple litigations. Upon a request of Secretary MoWR, we started releasing additional 150 Cusecs from Munak, so that about 100-120 Cusecs may be received at Wazirabad via DD-8. We have decided to extend the period of release of this additional water via DD-8 up to June 30, subject to the condition that Delhi withdraws all cases from the NGT and Delhi High Court. You would appreciate that multiple litigation to wastage of lot of time and energy. I, therefore, also hope that in case of litigation by private persons, you would defend Haryana's stand of UYRB being the correct forum for deliberations and decision making on such issues.”