DJB moves SC for ‘legitimate share’ of waters from Haryana

Delhi Jal Board has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the Haryana government seeking due supply of the national capital’s “legitimate share” as already determined by the apex court in 1995.  

He alleged that Haryana has been withholding 120 million gallons of water a day (MGD) meant for Delhi and that the raw water being discharged into the Yamuna by the neighbouring state is at an “all-time low”.

Delhi Jal Board vice chairman Raghav Chadha took to Twitter on Sunday to announce the board’s decision that DJB filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the Haryana government for withholding Delhi’s share of water.

Chadha said that DJB has now filed the petition in SC seeking discharge of Delhi’s legitimate share of water by Haryana which was decided by SC itself in 1995-96. “Tough times in Delhi because Haryana has withheld Delhi’s water in an outright contempt of SC’s existing order,” he said.

Chadha also said that water levels in the Yamuna river were at an “all-time low”, as Haryana was not releasing Delhi’s “legitimate share” as per a 1995 ruling of the Supreme Court. 

“Raw water discharge through Yamuna by Haryana is at an all-time low. Even 1Ft decline can cause havoc in the city but currently the pond level has fallen from 674.5 Ft to 667 Ft. Delhi’s legitimate share is withheld by the Haryana government,” he added. 

On Saturday, Chadha had said that the Haryana government was solely responsible for the water crisis in Delhi as it had been supplying 120 MGD less water against the legally prescribed amount.