Today(on 13th June),The Supreme Court instructed the Delhi government to approach the Upper Yamuna River Board for water supply on humanitarian grounds. Justices Mishra and Varale emphasized timely submission of the application, highlighting the urgency of the matter.
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NEW DELHI: The Himachal Pradesh government’s reversal on surplus water availability, the Supreme Court today(on13th June), instructed the Delhi government to seek water supply from the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB).
As Delhi residents struggle under the dual burden of a heatwave and a water crisis, the Supreme Court had directed the Himachal Pradesh government to release 137 cusecs of surplus water to the national capital, instructing Haryana to facilitate its flow. The court highlighted that the drinking water shortage had become an “existential problem” for Delhi.
A vacation bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Prasanna B Varale instructed the Delhi government to submit its request for water supply on “humanitarian grounds” to the Board by 5 pm today (June 13), if it has not already been submitted.
Speaking to the media, Himachal Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu affirmed that the state had released the water.
“We have released the water and instructed our advocates to inform the Supreme Court accordingly. The water is available for distribution without any conditions.”
However, in a surprising reversal today, Himachal’s counsel informed the court that the 137 cusecs of water were “unutilised after use of irrigation and part of the natural course of river flow.”
The counsel explained-
“We may not have communicated it effectively earlier. Our accurate statement should now be recorded. There may have been an error previously, but having been briefed, I will retract the earlier statement regarding obstruction of flow.”
This backtracking prompted a stern warning from the court, which stated-
“We can charge you with contempt and summon your Chief Secretary.”
The Himachal government counsel then apologised and assured the court they would submit an affidavit and withdraw their earlier response.
The Supreme Court instructed the UYRB to hold a meeting on June 14 and promptly make a decision on the issue. The court suggested that the Board could meet daily if necessary to expedite the process.
To resolve the issue, the court has asked the Upper River Yamuna Board to intervene. Previously, the board had insisted that Himachal Pradesh must prove it had been releasing 137 cusecs of unutilised water for Delhi following the court’s June 6 ruling.
Amid a severe water crisis, residents in several areas of Delhi are grappling with a shortage of drinking water, exacerbated by the sweltering heatwave. The situation has been further compounded by the activities of the tanker mafia, which has aggravated the woes of the citizens. The Delhi High Court has pulled up the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for its handling of the crisis, specifically questioning the measures taken to curb water wastage and tackle the tanker mafia.
In an affidavit filed before the court, the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) referred to a letter sent by Himachal Pradesh to Haryana. The letter clarified that Himachal Pradesh’s share of unutilised water was already flowing uninterruptedly to the Hathnikund barrage and that Haryana should release it to Delhi.
“According to the aforementioned letter, the 137 cusecs of unused water continues to flow continuously from Himachal Pradesh to Tajewala (in Haryana). It is evident that Himachal Pradesh has not released any additional water following the Supreme Court’s order dated 06.06.2024 that could be monitored by the Upper Yamuna River Board.”
– the UYRB stated in its affidavit.
The court was notably stern with the AAP government, demanding clarity on the steps taken to counter the water wastage and the tanker mafia’s operations.
The bench observed-
“Every channel is showing visuals of the tanker mafia operating in Delhi. What actions have you taken in response? How are you addressing water wastage through the two barrages, given its recurring nature? Please provide details on any actions taken or FIRs filed against the tanker mafias.”
Delhi’s Water Minister Atishi has been vocal about the issues plaguing the Delhi Jal Board. She accused government officials of reducing the number of Delhi Jal Board water tankers without her knowledge, a move she claims has facilitated the operations of the tanker mafia. Atishi has also written to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, seeking an inquiry into the alleged collusion between senior officials and the tanker mafia.
The court is currently hearing the Delhi government’s petition that seeks a directive to Haryana to release the surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh to the national capital. The Delhi government contends that Haryana is not releasing the requisite amount of water, leading to the current shortage in Delhi.
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However, the Haryana government has staunchly rejected these allegations. Minister of State for Irrigation and Water Resources Abhe Singh Yadav responded to the accusations, stating-
“Haryana is faithfully honoring its commitment to supply water to Delhi, consistently meeting and surpassing its responsibilities in this regard.”