Haryana CM Drinks Yamuna Water; Slams Kejriwal Over “Poisonous” Claims

Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the quality of Yamuna River water in Delhi, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini took a bold step on Wednesday by drinking water from the river near the Delhi border. This action came in response to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s claims that the Yamuna water was “poisonous.” Saini sharply criticized Kejriwal for allegedly spreading misinformation.

“I drank the water of the holy Yamuna on the border of Haryana without any hesitation. Kejriwal has blatantly lied,” Saini stated on X (formerly Twitter). “Even I have relatives in Delhi. The AAP convener should immediately tender an apology.”

In response to Kejriwal’s claims, Haryana’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister announced that the state government has filed a case against the former Delhi Chief Minister in the Sonipat court under the Disaster Management Act. The Minister called Kejriwal’s statement “absurd and misleading,” and urged the Election Commission of India to take notice of the baseless allegations.

“Kejriwal has engaged in cheap politics with these allegations, which has forced the Haryana government to take legal action,” the Minister added, highlighting the political motive behind Kejriwal’s comments.

Saini Highlights Haryana’s Commitment To Water Supply

Chief Minister Saini responded to Kejriwal’s claims by reiterating that Haryana has been diligently fulfilling its responsibility in supplying water to Delhi. He called Kejriwal’s statement a “political stunt” aimed at influencing voters ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections and diverting attention from the AAP’s own failures.

“Ensuring a reliable water supply to the national capital is a collective responsibility, which Haryana is fulfilling without any shortcomings,” Saini emphasized.

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Saini further pointed out that Delhi’s own failure to upgrade the Wazirabad water treatment plant has contributed to the ongoing water quality issues in the city. He referred to a 2021 petition filed by Delhi, which prompted the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to highlight problems with ammonia levels in the Wazirabad pond.

Despite the CPCB’s recommendations, Saini argued that Delhi had not taken necessary steps to improve water treatment. “The people of Delhi are still consuming contaminated water, while Kejriwal blames Haryana to cover up his own failures,” he stated.

Haryana Supplies Clean Water To Delhi

Saini clarified that Haryana supplies Delhi with clean water through two canals: The Carrier Line Channel (CLC) and the Delhi Branch, and has not been supplying water directly from the Yamuna River or through drains since 2014. “Haryana is consistently supplying clean water to Delhi, ensuring its purity and continuous availability,” he assured.

In his statement, Saini referenced a CPCB investigation into the pollution of the Yamuna River, which found that illegal discharges of polluted water between Palla and Wazirabad were contributing to the problem.

The investigation also revealed that the accumulation of sediment in the Wazirabad pond was increasing ammonia nitrogen levels, further degrading water quality.

Despite these findings, Saini pointed out that the Delhi government had not acted on the CPCB’s report, nor had it taken steps to halt the illegal discharges or clean the Wazirabad pond. “The Delhi government has ignored the CPCB’s findings and continues to let the situation worsen,” he stated.

Saini concluded by reaffirming that the Haryana government remains committed to providing Delhi with a clean and continuous water supply. “We will continue to fulfill our responsibility, and we urge the Delhi government to take immediate action on the CPCB’s recommendations to prevent further contamination,” he said.

The political exchange continues as both state governments prepare for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, with the water issue taking center stage in the debate over governance and accountability.