New Delhi: The Delhi government has urgently sought the intervention of Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to address an impending water crisis, with the capital facing a major shortage within the next one to two days if Haryana does not release 1,050 cusecs of water. This request was made amidst reports that the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) treated only 993.44 million gallons per day (mgd) on Saturday, falling short of its targeted 1,000 mgd.
The Aam Aadmi Party has accused Haryana of failing to release sufficient water, a claim denied by the neighbouring state. DJB officials highlight that a shortfall of 1 mgd impacts approximately 21,500 residents. On Saturday, several areas, including Ambedkar Colony, Chhatarpur, Mahavir Enclave, Satya Enclave (Prem Nagar), Kirari, Gittorni, Ashok Nagar, and Tilak Nagar, experienced severe water shortages.
Delhi’s Water Minister Atishi publicly appealed to the Lieutenant Governor on social media, urging him to facilitate central intervention. She emphasised that the water from the Munak Canal, meant to provide 1,050 cusecs via the CLC and DSB sub-canals, had dropped to 840 cusecs. She warned that if the situation did not improve immediately, Delhi would face a severe water crisis, affecting seven critical water treatment plants.
In response, Raj Niwas officials announced that the Lieutenant Governor would meet the minister at 11 am on Monday. Meanwhile, Saxena has instructed officials to verify the actual water release from Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, examine measures to curb water wastage and leakage in Delhi, and review the desilting status of the Wazirabad reservoir, as mandated by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed Himachal Pradesh to release 137 cusecs of surplus water to Delhi and instructed Haryana to facilitate its flow through the Wazirabad barrage to alleviate the drinking water shortage. The court stressed that the issue should not be politicised and urged the Delhi government to proactively address water wastage and leakage issues.
Minister Atishi indicated that the Delhi government plans to approach the Supreme Court on Monday regarding the reduced raw water supply. Haryana, however, insists that it has been releasing the agreed amount of water, accusing Delhi of misrepresentation to cover its own shortcomings.
Delhi relies heavily on neighbouring states for about 86.5% of its drinking water supply, sourced from the Yamuna River, the Munak Canal, the Delhi Sub-Branch (DSB) canals from Haryana, and the Upper Ganga Canal via Muradnagar from Uttar Pradesh. Although the summer action plan targets a supply of 1,000 mgd, the Delhi Economic Survey estimates the actual demand at 1,290 mgd. The supply-demand gap becomes particularly critical during peak summer, with DJB data showing supply levels dropping to 966.16 mgd on May 27. While last week’s supply levels mostly stayed above 1,000 mgd, they fell again to 993.44 mgd on Saturday.
The escalating water crisis highlights the urgent need for coordinated efforts and sustainable solutions to ensure Delhi’s water security.
