SC summons Haryana, Delhi CSs over less water to Capital

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the chief secretaries of Haryana and Delhi to appear before it on Monday after the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) said it was not receiving enough water to supply to the national Capital.

A Bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur took a strong note of the apathy shown by authorities in dealing with the water woes of the residents of the national Capital.

“People are dying. But no urgency is being shown by you people,” the court said, directing senior officials of the two State Governments to appear before it in person on April 23.

The Delhi Government had informed the apex court it was in talks with Haryana for the release of 450 cusec of water of the Yamuna river daily for the national Capital.

The apex court was hearing a plea filed by the DJB alleging that Haryana had reduced by one-third the supply of Yamuna water to the national capital, leading to a grave water crisis.

The DJB has contended in its plea that Haryana was supplying Delhi only 330 cusec of water daily as against 450 cusec per day, which was agreed upon between the state and the Union Territory.