New Delhi
Delhi Minister Atishi has urgently appealed to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini regarding the critical water shortage due to the state’s failure to release sufficient water. She warned that if the issue is not resolved, the national capital could face a severe water crisis within the next one to two days.
In her letter, Atishi highlighted that Haryana has not been releasing enough water into the Munak Canal over the past few days, causing significant hardship for Delhi residents. According to the agreement from the 53rd meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Board in May 2018, Delhi is allocated 1050 cusecs (568 MGD) at Munak through the CLC and DSB Canals. Accounting for transmission loss, this should result in about 1013 cusecs (548 MGD) reaching Delhi.
Atishi pointed out that this water flow is measured at the Bawana contact point in Delhi, where flow meters were recently checked by Upper Yamuna River Board representatives. Even during summer, Delhi typically receives between 980 and 1030 cusecs at this point.
She further explained that seven of Delhi’s Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) rely on Yamuna water. Due to the reduced flow from Munak Canal, now down to 840 cusecs, these plants are unable to operate at full capacity.
