As the water shortage in the national capital worsens during a severe heatwave, workers from the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organized separate ‘Matka Phod’ protests across Delhi on Saturday. These protests aimed to criticize the current Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for its perceived mishandling of the crisis. Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav participated in the protest at Yusuf Sarai, highlighting the severity of the water crisis affecting residents.
In Krishna Nagar, a Congress member lamented, “The public is being deceived regarding water. The poorest suffer the most. Governments are shifting blame instead of preparing in advance. The Congress will conduct ‘Matka Phod’ protests to awaken the inactive government, which has colluded with water tanker mafias.”
Meanwhile, BJP workers carried ‘matkas’ on their heads at a demonstration outside Delhi Minister Atishi’s office, slamming the gates in protest. BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla criticized the Congress for its “selective association” with AAP, asserting that the ongoing water crisis reflects years of corruption and mismanagement under AAP’s rule.
In response to the escalating crisis, Delhi Water Minister Atishi chaired a review meeting with officials from Delhi Jal Board and Urban Development Department. With temperatures rising nationwide, groundwater levels are plummeting, exacerbating the acute water shortage in the city. A recent video showed desperate residents chasing water tankers and even attempting to connect pipes while the vehicles were still in motion in Chanakyapuri.
The Delhi government’s plea to the Supreme Court for immediate additional water highlighted the gravity of the situation. However, the court deferred the decision to the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB), citing the complexity of inter-state water disputes. Himachal Pradesh, initially agreeing to provide surplus water, later retracted its statement, further complicating Delhi’s water supply prospects.
Amid these developments, Atishi and AAP MP Raghav Chadha met with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, currently detained in Tihar jail, to strategize on mitigating the crisis promptly.