AMN
The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has moved the Supreme Court alleging that Haryana was supplying 120 cusec less water to Delhi. As mandated by a 1996 Supreme Court order, Haryana is supposed to release 450 cusecs of potable water daily to the Wazirabad reservoir.However, the counsel for the DJB said the water plant was receiving only 330 cusec per day.
The DJB had moved the Apex Court in this regard last week. It sought directions to Haryana to release adequate water for the Wazirabad barrage.
A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud has agreed to hear DJB’s plea on the short supply on April 2.
Delhi has been facing an acute water shortage due to the stoppage of water supply by Haryana into the Yamuna. According to the plea, this water is meant for drinking purposes in Delhi. The Board has also been rationing water supply due to this.
The DJB’s water treatment plants have also been affected, with many functioning at below capacity over the past few weeks due to not just a drop in the level of Yamuna water, but also the release of polluted water from Haryana that cannot be treated.
The Delhi High Court had recently told the Haryana government that it has to stick to its 2014 direction specifying the amount of water to be released to Delhi every day.