The Aam Aadmi Party led Delhi government moved the Supreme Court urging additional water supply from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh for a month amid a severe shortage in the national capital.
In the plea, the AAP government mentioned that the water demand in the national capital has risen significantly due to heatwave conditions. It urged the apex court to direct Haryana to release extra water for a month. It further said that it is the responsibility of all to work towards fulfilling water needs of Delhi.
In the last few days, the national capital has been witnessing searing heatwave conditions, with maximum temperatures hovering around the 50 degree-Celsius mark in parts of the city. Water Minister Atishi also announced that a war room had been set up in the DJB for water tanker supply and accused Haryana of not releasing Delhi’s share of water.
Delhi, India’s capital city, has been grappling with water shortages and reduced supply pressure for the past 10 days. The issue has affected various parts of the city, particularly residential areas located at the tail-ends of the extensive, 15.473-km water pipeline network. Shortages are also being reported in areas where the Delhi Jal Board supplies tankers, with demand having risen substantially. The Delhi government has announced measures to address the situation, such as adjusting supply timings and imposing fines for water wastage.
The primary reason for the shortage is the low water level in the Yamuna River. According to Delhi Jal Board (DJB) reports, the low river level has led to a deficit of 10-30 million gallons per day (MGD) in the city’s water supply. Additionally, power outages at water treatment plants and high turbidity in the Upper Ganga Canal have contributed to the problem.
Residents in affected areas are receiving less daily water allocation, experiencing reduced water pressure, and dealing with shorter supply durations.
Some people have resorted to buying water from private tankers, which have significantly increased their prices due to high demand.
Tail-end areas of the supply network, such as Vasant Kunj and parts of Dwarka, are facing the worst of the crisis. According to DJB officials, shortfall of one MGD impacts around 21,500 people in the form of reduced water supply pressure and lower volumes.
