New Delhi, June 6: The Supreme Court has highlighted the severe drinking water shortage in Delhi as an “existential problem” and directed the Himachal Pradesh government to release 137 cusecs of surplus water to the national capital. The apex court also instructed Haryana to ensure the smooth flow of this water.
A vacation bench noted that the Himachal Pradesh government had expressed willingness to release the surplus water. A cusec, equivalent to 28.317 litres per second, will be channelled from Himachal Pradesh to Hathnikund barrage, and subsequently to Delhi via Wazirabad.
“Since Himachal Pradesh has no objection and is ready and willing to release the surplus water available with it, we direct that Himachal Pradesh shall release 137 cusecs of surplus water available with it from the upstream so that the water reaches Hathnikund barrage and reaches Delhi through Wazirabad,” the bench stated.
Acknowledging the urgency, the bench ordered Himachal Pradesh to commence the water release on June 7, with prior notification to Haryana. The Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) will measure the water flow to ensure its proper delivery to Delhi.
The Supreme Court emphasised that no politics should interfere with the provision of this essential resource. The Delhi government has been tasked with ensuring that the water received is not wasted. The bench further directed that compliance affidavits from the Delhi, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh governments be submitted by June 10, when the matter will be reviewed again.
This directive follows a plea by the Delhi government seeking the release of surplus water from Himachal Pradesh to mitigate its water crisis. During a June 3 hearing, the Supreme Court had called for an emergency meeting of the UYRB to address the issue. The UYRB, established in 1995, regulates water allocation among beneficiary states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.
During the hearing, it was acknowledged that Delhi is facing extraordinary heat wave conditions exacerbating the water crisis. Although Haryana also reported similar conditions, there was no evidence of an acute drinking water crisis in the state.
The UYRB recommended that Delhi formally request Haryana to release 150 cusecs of additional water on humanitarian grounds to meet its needs until the onset of the monsoon on June 30. The bench took note of a chart presented by Himachal Pradesh detailing the availability of 137 cusecs of surplus water from March to June.
The bench urged the involved parties to transcend political considerations and focus on resolving the water crisis for Delhi’s residents. “There should be no politics on water,” the bench asserted, directing Haryana to facilitate the water’s passage without obstruction.
The intervention by the Supreme Court underscores the gravity of Delhi’s water scarcity and the necessity for collaborative efforts among states to ensure the provision of essential resources to its citizens.
