NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the Delhi government’s contempt plea against Haryana over alleged violation of a February 1996 order on water supply to the national capital. A bench headed by Justice L N Rao declined the plea by the AAP government and asked it to negotiate the matter with the Haryana government.
The Delhi government has moved the top court with a plea alleging that as per the SC order of February 29, 1996, Haryana has to keep the Wazirabad water reservoir full. This order is being breached, said senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the Delhi government.
“Please advise your client not to file application after application,” the bench told Singh and dismissed the contempt plea. The bench asked the Delhi government to undertake consultation process with the Haryana to resolve the issue. Alleging that “there is zero cusec release of raw water in Yamuna from Haryana”, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) had moved the top court for initiation of contempt proceedings.
As per the February 29, 1996 order of the Supreme Court , the Wazirabad reservoir here has to be kept full. Out of 450 cusec water, 370 cusec has been released by Haryana to Delhi through canal and rest 80 cusec water, to be released through the Yamuna river for Wazirabad water treatment plant here, has not been released leading to the contempt of the apex court’s order, DJB contended in its plea.
Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Haryana, sought dismissal of the contempt plea on various grounds including that after DJB’s development of infrastructure, the entire water is not supposed to reach to Delhi through Yamuna. Divan said the state has been facing acute shortage of water this year.