NEW DELHI: Political slugfest over the ongoing water crisis in the national capital intensified on Saturday as Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena lashed out at the Aam Aadmi party-led government, accusing it of turning the crisis into an opportunity for blaming neighbouring states.
In a statement Delhi LG Saxena said, “The shrill discourse of the ministers of the GNCTD over the last few weeks, has been distressing and questionable at various levels.Drinking water supply has become a challenge in the national capital. Political leaders of Delhi have turned a crisis into an opportunity for blaming neighbouring states, with the sole aim of gaining political mileage.”
“Delhi is dependent on drinking water supply from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Interstate water-sharing arrangements are settled through institutional mechanisms created by the ministry of jal shakti, GoI, upheld time and again by the highest court of the land. The states are obliged to release water as per agreements signed under this framework. At the same time, the city government is under an obligation to ensure that this water resource is used efficiently to ensure equitable supplies across the city,” he added.
Meanwhile, Delhi water minister Atishi, who is sitting on an indefinite hunger strike against the water crisis, said that she tried “everything” but was left with no choice but to sit on a fast when the Haryana government didn’t agree to supply the required quantity of water.
Taking to X, Atishi said, “This is the second day of my fast. There is an acute shortage of water in Delhi. Delhi receives water from its neighbouring states. Delhi receives a total of 1005 MGD of water that is supplied to the houses in Delhi. Of this, 613 MGD of water comes from Haryana but for the past several weeks, it has been releasing only 513 MGD. Due to this, more than 28 lakh people in Delhi are not receiving water. I tried everything but when the Haryana government didn’t agree to supply water, I was left with no choice but to sit on a fast.”
The Aam Aadmi Party leader alleged that Haryana is supplying 100 million gallons per day (MGD) less water every day, which has severely affected the lives of 28 lakh people in Delhi.
“I got numbers from the Delhi Jal Board this morning but even today, the situation of the water crisis persists. Yesterday, Haryana supplied 110 MGD less water. I will continue my fast until the Haryana government supplies water to Delhi, until 28 lakh people of Delhi get water,” she further added.
Additionally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers staged a protest outside the Delhi Jal Board office in Delhi. The police also used water cannons to disperse the people protesting the prevailing water crisis in the national capital.
BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla attacked the AAP, saying that Haryana is sending enough water and the Supreme Court has also acknowledged this.
“AAP has been in power in Delhi for the last 10 years. They have the Delhi Jal Board, MCD. They have all the important departments. So are they protesting against their own government? The reality is that their own ally, the Congress Party, is now admitting that Haryana is sending more water. It is sending more than it has committed to send. The Supreme Court has also acknowledged this,” the BJP leader said.
“Today, instead of taking action against the water tanker mafia, they are again doing drama and demonstrations. The question is why are they protecting the water tanker mafia? Is it because they are getting a commission on every water tanker?” Poonawalla added.
In a statement Delhi LG Saxena said, “The shrill discourse of the ministers of the GNCTD over the last few weeks, has been distressing and questionable at various levels.Drinking water supply has become a challenge in the national capital. Political leaders of Delhi have turned a crisis into an opportunity for blaming neighbouring states, with the sole aim of gaining political mileage.”
“Delhi is dependent on drinking water supply from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Interstate water-sharing arrangements are settled through institutional mechanisms created by the ministry of jal shakti, GoI, upheld time and again by the highest court of the land. The states are obliged to release water as per agreements signed under this framework. At the same time, the city government is under an obligation to ensure that this water resource is used efficiently to ensure equitable supplies across the city,” he added.
Meanwhile, Delhi water minister Atishi, who is sitting on an indefinite hunger strike against the water crisis, said that she tried “everything” but was left with no choice but to sit on a fast when the Haryana government didn’t agree to supply the required quantity of water.
Taking to X, Atishi said, “This is the second day of my fast. There is an acute shortage of water in Delhi. Delhi receives water from its neighbouring states. Delhi receives a total of 1005 MGD of water that is supplied to the houses in Delhi. Of this, 613 MGD of water comes from Haryana but for the past several weeks, it has been releasing only 513 MGD. Due to this, more than 28 lakh people in Delhi are not receiving water. I tried everything but when the Haryana government didn’t agree to supply water, I was left with no choice but to sit on a fast.”
The Aam Aadmi Party leader alleged that Haryana is supplying 100 million gallons per day (MGD) less water every day, which has severely affected the lives of 28 lakh people in Delhi.
“I got numbers from the Delhi Jal Board this morning but even today, the situation of the water crisis persists. Yesterday, Haryana supplied 110 MGD less water. I will continue my fast until the Haryana government supplies water to Delhi, until 28 lakh people of Delhi get water,” she further added.
Additionally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers staged a protest outside the Delhi Jal Board office in Delhi. The police also used water cannons to disperse the people protesting the prevailing water crisis in the national capital.
BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla attacked the AAP, saying that Haryana is sending enough water and the Supreme Court has also acknowledged this.
“AAP has been in power in Delhi for the last 10 years. They have the Delhi Jal Board, MCD. They have all the important departments. So are they protesting against their own government? The reality is that their own ally, the Congress Party, is now admitting that Haryana is sending more water. It is sending more than it has committed to send. The Supreme Court has also acknowledged this,” the BJP leader said.
“Today, instead of taking action against the water tanker mafia, they are again doing drama and demonstrations. The question is why are they protecting the water tanker mafia? Is it because they are getting a commission on every water tanker?” Poonawalla added.